Chapter 3

The Empress*

End of Innocence

~ The Mystic Moon ~

- Westchester, NY -

+ Westchester Orphanage +

The small girl with shoulder length lavender hair stared out the window of her room, tears streaming down her cheeks. She clutched the ring she had placed on a leather rope necklace, since her fingers weren't big enough to wear her father's heirloom. Absentmindedly, she brushed a shock hair out of her tear-stained eyes.

She missed her parents deeply, orphaned when she was a mere year of age. Her parents had been utterly innocent, she knew it in her broken heart. They had loved her, going out of their way to make her have a great first birthday. A few weeks later after that birthday, her parents were celebrating their anniversary, or so the headmistress of the orphanage told her when she felt she was old enough to understand.

That day had been today, on the anniversary of their wedding and their deaths. Alessa was six years old now and all alone, desperate the day before to know when her parents were coming for her. The headmistress took her to her lavish office and explained why her parents would never come.

On this day, her parents had been driving home with a loving present, a stuffed animal she had been begging for a week. They had taken time out of their day of romance and memories to get her the gift out of the goodness and love in their hearts. No sooner had they pulled out of the toy store parking lot, possibly talking about the wonderful evening they had, a drunk driver came out of nowhere and hit them head on, killing them instantly. The drunk had lived and went to prison for double manslaughter, but he was alive and her parents were because he had been drinking too much at a bar.

Her parents were too good, too perfect and kind to have suffered like that. The drunk should have died, but he hadn't and they did, leaving her all alone. She had no aunts or uncles, not a single relative and none of her parents supposedly lovely friends wanted her, so she was dumped here for the rest of her life, unless she got adopted.

Alessa, its not your fault, but your parents would want you to go on, to be happy again. Try for them at least.

Fresh tears welled up in Alessa's sky blue eyes as she recalled the headmistress' words, so kind and soothing, but all lies. Alessa Lee Demitrius would not be happy knowing her parents died for a stupid toy and a drunk idiot. She hated the world right now, she wanted to run from it all because it hurt so much. She was all alone, and she hadn't been adopted yet, people wanted babies, just like the big kids still there teased her about day after day. No one wanted her, only her parents had and they were gone forever.

She held her ring tighter, letting out a choking sob. Her father's ring, he'd said it was a good luck charm and had given it to her to keep. 'Some luck, Mommy and Daddy went away….' She thought, tears staining the ring. It shimmered slightly, dazzling her puffy eyes.

"I wish I wasn't alone. Please. Somebody, if you're listen, don't let me be alone!" she cried out. The ring flashed in her hand, making her yelp, then it died down. She stared a little longer until she heard something. It was a faint singing, a boy's voice, sweet as honey yet alluring like a warm breeze.

One is one,

The Soul is thee

Let emotions run,

Let the heart be free.

She followed it slowly to the door of her little room, and saw the most beautiful boy she'd ever seen. His eyes were green, yet his irises were blue, as blue as his sapphire colored hair. He was dressed in a strange black shirt and tan pants and little black boots, he had his arms stretched out to her, singing the phrase over and over again, coaxing her forward.

One is one,

The Soul is thee

Let emotions run,

Let the heart be free.

Alessa took a step towards him, staring at him as warily as she could manage without looking scared. He didn't seem to notice, but stopped singing and smiled at her sweetly. He was trying to say something, but no sound was coming out now. The harder she looked at him, the more she noticed. He was nearly transparent, she could practically see right through him. There was also a curious looking pendant around his neck, with a stone similar to the one in her father's ring glimmering strangely on it.

One is one,

The Soul is thee

Let emotions run,

Let the heart be free.

He sang it again, his unreal eyes pleading to her. He seemed so sincere, the song so enchanting, she couldn't help but go to him, to reach out and see what this ghost boy felt like.

In a flash, he grabbed her hand, and she saw the scars on it. She could feel him, and soon she found he was growing solid as he pulled her against him. "I'm coming….to give you destiny. Be brave, angel, be brave, and guard your soul for me." He said in a sing song voice, then kissed her right on the mouth.

Her lips burned for a second, everything burned, then there was nothing. She opened her eyes slowly, gasping when she found her lips were on the door. She sputtered a bit and rubbed her mouth.

"What….what happened?" she quivered, falling to her knees, trying to understand why the strange boy kissed her, and what became of him.

~Gaia~

~Fanelia~

The kingdom of Fanelia was peaceful, doves flying over the precious mountain town, the serenade of dragons chorusing throughout the area. The people were all content, going about their lives as any other town would.

Allen Schezar found it comforting that it wasn't the noisy hustle and bustle of Palas, but rather the calm serenity of Freid. He'd never actually visited Fanelia himself, destroyed or intact. He'd been too busy maintaining his outpost and becoming a knight of Freid in the past, and when he met Van and Hitomi, it had been too late for visits thanks to Dilandau and Folken.

He frowned involuntary at the thought of Dilandau, the monster Zaibach had gender bent his sweet little sister Celena into. He was glad the monster had been driven out of her, but where it had come from in a small child was beyond him. Celena has always been a happy and kind child, not a mean bone in her body. Whatever Zaibach and Dornkirk had done to her, it had to have been so horrible it created the Lord of the Dragon Slayers, the embodiment of insanity.

He turned his head as their carriage rode through the streets of Fanelia to the castle, looking at the very woman he was thinking about. He hair had grown since then, shoulder length and the wonderful silvery blonde color back in it. He eyes were pure blue, like the sea after a storm. Her eyes were always a bit dazed, as if she were lost in thought almost every moment of the day. Celena had not gotten over her change as easily as Allen had hoped, missing Dilandau's slayers that gave their lives for him so he could go on, go on and be free of Dornkirk's evil. He pitied those dead boys and his sister for thinking all that. Dilandau hadn't been worth saving, but Celena was. Perhaps they had all known what had happened, but were forbidden to tell Dilandau what he really was.

Celena seemed to stiffen, feeling her brother's blue eyes upon her, She looked out the carriage window, sighing as bit. She rarely looked him in the eye, though occasionally he saw her talking to his wife, Millerna, the former princess. Millerna had given up her royal title to live a normal life, with Allen. He was glad she chose him, deep down he had wished it, even knowing Millerna knew about him and her late older sister Marlene. The journal she had found wasn't enough to remind her, but his son Chid was.

Allen looked across at his wife and son, Chid now a good thirteen years old and becoming quite handsome. King Van and Queen Hitomi had invited Chid as well as the Schezar family to attend their own son's 7th birthday. Still, Chid reminded Millerna of what Allen had done with her sister, and Chid was already starting to take a high interest in females, his charm nearly as powerful as Allen's had been. He was taller with a healthy build, his face had grown longer with puberty, less like a child and more like a budding young man. Millerna was smiling at him affectionately, patting his hand gently with her own.

Allen smiled, his frown lost for what he hoped was forever. He wondered if Hitomi and her son were like that, if Van treated the boy as Allen did Chid. He was still slightly annoyed that the king and queen of Fanelia had not told them of the prince's birth until a week ago, even though a small explanation had been enclosed in the letter. It had been for the boy's safety, since he was the sole heir to the throne of Fanelia and Zaibach was starting trouble again near the borders of many nearby countries.

It was a bit understandable, but still, Allen and Millerna could have been trusted with the knowledge of Prince Hiero's existence. 'Then again, you kept a secret from them too, one you'll gladly show them this day. Won't they be surprised….then we'll be even. No more deception, Van, not this time.' Allen thought playfully, his smile still beaming across his face as the carriage went on.

~ Fanelia Castle ~

Van and Hitomi were dressed formally to receive the Schezar family, forcing smiles they didn't feel like wearing on their faces. Yesterday had been bad enough, but Hiero hadn't woken up yet. Ever since the attack on Merle and Daisuke, all he had been able to do was have a fitful slumber. Myrna was sleeping beside him, hissing at anyone who dared enter the room, even to Hiero's own parents.

It was comforting to know Hiero would wake up to a diligent bodyguard, but when he woke up, that was another story. What would he be like after seeing a vision of his uncle's death. Hitomi felt like she was dying inside. Her little boy had been through a traumatic event without even seeing it in reality, but in his mind. She had never seen anyone die in her mind at such a tender age. She had no idea what he was going through, but she could only hope it hadn't scared him to death, handicapped his mind in some way. She could really only pray.

Van had assigned more guymelef to patrol the mountains and the valley around Fanelia to ensure another incident like yesterday wouldn't happen again. Van had been in a rage at what had happened, blaming everything and everyone for it, mostly that his son's life had nearly been taken. The guards were pushing 24-hour shifts to make sure nothing came after Hiero or the treasured Escaflowne armor. They were all barely standing up now, sneaking naps anywhere they could and for as long as possible to keep their strength up.

Hitomi felt he was going to far, as always, abusing his power with exaggerated plans just to make a point. If the men were abused for much longer, Zaibach would be walking in very soon to the chorus of snoring from the palace.

She lifted herself out of her dreary thoughts as she heard a carriage approaching, two great white horses leading it with its elderly driver cracking his whip at them. It stopped right in front of them, the horses neighing loudly and jumping a bit.

The carriage door facing them opening quietly and swiftly. Allen Schezar the first to step out. He was dressed the same as always in his Asturian Knight garb, matching the gentle blue of his eyes. After him came Millerna, the princess that gave up her country years ago to be with Allen, her first decision as a free woman. Then came a young blonde teenager, resembling Allen in some respects with his blue eyes and blonde hair. Even though his hair was shorter, she knew he was Allen's relative, his son Chid of Freid. He was another boy ruler, as Van had been so many years ago.

Chid looked like he had aged well, his face resembling Allen's slightly, but was a bit thicker. She had to suppose ruling a country was difficult, far more when you were orphaned at age five with no one but an advisor and everyone else a stranger to you. Chid did have his real father Allen to look up to with the great war being over, and his aunt Millerna becoming his step-mother only added to the affection the young ruler was probably used to receiving.

They all bowed to Hitomi and Van, Millerna to only one curtsying while the men got on one knee and bowed their head low. Van bowed his head to Chid, then to the others, Hitomi quickly followed his actions with grace. Then she came out of the carriage, a face Hitomi had not seen since the final battle with Zaibach. It was a face she'd barely seen then either. The body was different, now decked in a very lovely dress similar to Millerna's, her silvery blonde hair billowing just above her slight shoulders, skin as pale as snow and with haunting blue eyes.

"Celena Schezar. So good of you to come. "Hitomi let out, stiffening when she heard Van gasp. She took a chance and cast a quick glance at her husband. His eyes were narrowed and his formal posture was gone. Van had never liked Celena previous incarnation, Dilandau Albatou, and he had told her he hadn't wanted to remember the madman, so he had avoided Allen's family with great effort. When he had seen her before Hitomi had returned a few times, he couldn't forget she was Dilandau somewhere behind her stormy eyes, the insane commander lurking under her skin and waiting to strike. He didn't trust her at all, and he had probably never expected her to be here. He had not put her name on the invitation as near as Hitomi could recall.

"Likewise, Queen Hitomi. Van." Celena let out, the coldness apparent in her voice. She didn't like the way Van had treated her and was showing it by not announcing his title or bowing to him. She only bowed to Hitomi, then just stood there with a blank and cool expression on her face.

"MAMA!" Hitomi jumped when she heard a child's voice, not Hiero's or Myrna, but it was a boy. She looked towards the source and saw a small aqua-haired boy climbing down from the carriage steps. Celena turned a bit, then shook her head, reaching for the struggling child. She picked him up with ease, then set him down in front of her.

Hitomi just stared, trying to form the right words in her mouth, but Van beat her to it. "So, you had a child, Celena. How wonderful for you to enjoy motherhood at last." Van replied evenly, not putting much emotion into the statement. Celena sneered at him, then chuckled. She pointed at Millerna. "Val is not mine, he's Allen and Millerna's little boy. I don't have a man right now….if Allen has his way much longer, I never will. He scares them all away being so protective of me." Celena let out, casting her stormy eyes upon her brother's stiffening back.

Hitomi could see the annoyed expression on Allen's face, the frown most apparent and horribly ruining his handsome features. Chid was giggling and Millerna was trying not to laugh, but the little boy named Val seemed to find this conversation strangely amusing. He walked past his family and stopped in front of Hitomi and Van, not bowing, but looking up at them with a bright smile.

Hitomi examined him thoughtfully, noting his hair was long enough to be shoulder length, hair of a light blue-green color, close to aqua in the sunlight, but his eyes were his most endearing quality. They were the color of gold, as brilliant as a freshly made coin. He was dressed like a little pirate in her opinion, the blousy white shirt, a sash tied round his waist and dark pants and boots to top it all off. Though, as she looked at his face, she notice he had faded scars on his cheeks, two on each cheek going from the center of his cheek towards his ears, and inch apart at best. They didn't look like they deformed him, but they were strange, much like Hiero's scars on his right hand and left middle finger to palm were.

Suddenly her staring was stopped as the little boy tugged on her dress, his bright smile nearly blinding her with his happiness. "Hi, Queen Hitomi. My Mama and Daddy talk a lot about you and King Van. Daddy threw a fit that you didn't tell them 'bout your son. I can have a friend now, right? My own playmate, please, Queen Hitomi, can your son and I be friends?" he said, his voice the picture of pure innocence, a little too refined and soft for his age, but it was terribly cute.

Hitomi smiled at him, then patted his hair. "Sure, but he's been through a lot since yesterday. You see that big man over there," she said, pointing to one of the castle guards, then watched the boy nod," Tell him I gave you permission to go meet Hiero early. Just be warned, his little friend Myrna is in there with him. She's a cat-girl and very protective of him. Just let her know I sent you in, to make friends. Then we'll all come get you so we can have his party. Ok, honey?" Val smiled even wider and leapt up a bit, just high enough to plant a kiss on her hand, then ran off at top speed to the guard. In moment, the guard had taken the boy inside.

Hitomi turned back to the other guests, who were already speaking with Van, Celena hanging behind her brother with an indifferent expression on her pale face. 'This is going to be fun, the last thing we need is for her and Van to get in a fight. Hiero is hurting enough, Van had better control his temper for his sake. Hiero can't take much more pain.' She thought, putting on her best smile as she walked over to the group

~ Hiero's Chambers ~

'Dammit, that was gross. I can't believe I have to talk like this for another few years just so they won't send me to some crazy doctors to fix me. Now I understand the hell Hiero went through trying to act like a kid and stand it. This sucks to hell….the last thing I ever want to do officially is relive my childhood. All those babes I could be with and I am knee-high to them and I've got no damned hormones to get excited with. Please Puberty, please come….hopefully this Myrna cat-person is a kid too, so I won't feel so bad about not getting excited. At least maybe I can grow up to like her accordingly. Hope she's cute. I've never seen a cat-person….how bad can it be anyway?' Val thought impatiently as the guard was commenting on how adorable he was.

If that wasn't bad enough, the old women servants of the place stopped him to pinch his cheeks and say the same. He wanted to throw up from all the damned cooing and crap they were putting him through. It had been hard enough holding his bladder as a helpless baby, but he'd managed. Crawling was easy with the brainpower to know how to do it. He hated crawling on the cold floor to the primitive toilet, a hole in the floor where the tub and small basin sink surrounded it. It was easy relieving yourself over the hole, but being seen doing it and told he was smart and cute really made him wonder how real babies could stand it.

His Aunt Celena was the only one that didn't coo or dote over him, rather treating him like they were equals, as if she knew something about him that he wasn't aware of. He knew she'd never be able to hit who and what he was on the head. There was no way she'd guess he was really a reborn ancient dragon from a planet that had been destroyed by an insane goddess. Nor would she guess he was waiting till he was old enough to search for his best friend, a magic-absorbing world jumping immortal he'd lost in the crystal gateway that took him to Gaia, reborn within Millerna. That would never be his aunt's guess, not in a million years, but so long as she didn't make him sick, he was pretty ok with her.

She was neat anyway, teaching him how to handle a blade and how to keep his body honed and ready. That had lasted since he was three years old to now, and his father was no closer to discovering anything about them. Aunt Celena had been caught practicing with a sword and in her fancy new dress late one night on the roof, and Val had watched from the pillar he had hidden behind as his father screamed bloody murder at her. He mentioned the name Dilandau and that Celena was no longer that devil, and she should act more like a proper lady and forget about what Zaibach did to her.

Val marveled at how his aunt slapped his father across the face, then again with a stern, angry look in her pretty eyes. She said a few curses about him being one to talk when he slept with so many women like a whore and never bothered looking for her. With one more slap, she told him to stop trying to control her life, then ran downstairs into the palace.

Val waited until his father went down as well before heading back for his own room, admiring his aunt's strength and grace when she was threatened. He had to wonder what she had done in the Great War, as he'd never seen women in the Asturian or Freid armies. He brushed off the fight as his father's jealousy to her skills and nothing more. It was best he left it at that and didn't get involved. As Hiero had said once or twice, getting involved with other peoples problems will only lead you to disaster, regardless of who won or lost. Val felt that a defeatist's attitude, but Hiero was never one to shy from battles, all he avoided were petty and pointless squabbles involving friends and relatives. He had always preferred trashing strangers and robbing them blind, if he hadn't killed them beforehand.

Thievery was decent, but Val was being trained to be a knight of Asturia like his new father before him. He'd never get to enjoy life as he did before with Hiero. When he swiped the letter King Van and Queen Hitomi had sent to their home in Palas, he had nearly cried when he read that the sole prince of Palas was named Hiero. Val was so happy to finally know his longtime and bets friend was alive and on the same planet as he was. He had been eager to go, so eager and happy he'd run right for his aunt and told her, lying to her that she was also invited. He wanted his favorite and actually first aunt to come with him to see his friend. Since she already liked him, he knew she'd love Hiero.

He felt it was funny too, recalling all the complaining Hiero had done about royalty, and now Hiero was prince Hiero, heir to the throne of Fanelia. Hiero had riches, power, and title, and Val had to bet he was hating every minute of it. Val wasn't thrilled about being forced to be and honest and true knight, but it was better than nothing. Hiero was getting all the attention in his family, all the mounds of responsibility and etiquette a future king needed to rule a country right. Hiero was already full of 50,000 years and more intelligence and magic, and he had probably learned about the world of Gaia the moment he could walk and talk.

'And getting lessons the same as I am is probably driving him up a wall. I wonder why his pretty mother looked so haunted about happened recently. What could unnerve Hiero.' He thought, smiling anew as the guard stopped by a room with two noble samurai standing on either side.

"Go right in, young Val. Be quiet though. He's still asleep. Poor thing really, it's his mother's fault he suffered." The guard said. Val sneered at the man so suddenly, the man took a step back.

"What do you mean?" Val asked, but the guard shook his head and pushed the door open gently. When the man didn't say anything, Val shrugged and walked inside, jumping a bit as the door closed behind him.

He walked over to the bed quietly and climbed up the bedpost. Training so hard had made his arms and legs strong, stronger than the last life, and climbing this was no sweat. He felt his heart leap into his throat when he saw them, his best friend's new body making him smile, crawling up beside Hiero's right side.

'He looks a little like his new mother, the hair cropped real close to his head, but it seems his hair loves to have sharp bangs. They spiked about his face like a sharp cradle, he looks….hell, he looks like a real angel. Guess that fully explains why my hair is different too, and my face, different world, different physique. Man, will we ever turn heads when we grow up.' Val thought fondly, stroking his friend's pale cheek, then pushed one of the bangs away from his peacefully shut eyes.

His hair was still the bright sapphire blue it had always been, but that was all he could say safely that had remained the same. He was wearing a black shirt, similar to what he'd seen most of the male children of Fanelia wearing in the streets.

Hiero shuddered in his sleep a bit as Val stroked his cheek again. Hiero smiled a little and turned his head then puckered his lips, mumbling something Val couldn't understand. It sounded like he was having a good dream, but he was also struggling to wake up, his eyes twitching.

He went on rubbing the boy's face and looked at the bundled up little pink-haired cat girl that was sleeping above the covers to Hiero's left. She was purring, her little yellow dress and brown sandals. She was cute, very cute in fact, her little tanned face and body looking very sleek and soft to him. 'Wonder what she'll look like all grown up. Here kitty, kitty, ah, damn, why can't I feel that warm excitement I am used to. Damn this puny body….' He thought, then looked back at Hiero.

He started a bit when he saw a pair of blue and green eyes staring at him, the blue irises twitching a little with sleep and confusion. Hiero stared at Val a moment, his eyes stilling a moment before looking him up and down. Val felt relieved when he saw a tear fall from those eyes, a smile forming on Hiero's lips.

"VAL!" Hiero screamed, launching himself out of the covers with such force, he knocked Val onto Myrna, sending he screeching off the bed and Val on his back. Hiero was on top of him, hugging him like there was no tomorrow. Val hugged him back, glad his friend was in Gaia.

"I thought you got sent elsewhere. I'm so happy I'm not alone! Oh Val, where have you been?" Hiero was saying, finally letting Val go to sit up. Val sat up with him, wearing the brightest smile her could, his little fangs showing. He didn't smile openly like this very often, for he feared his normal human parents might try and get their primitive doctors to grind his fangs down. That was not only insulting to his ancient dragon heritage, but he had to bet it hurt like a son of a bitch. Only Hiero understood, and only Hiero could be trusted.

"I thought the same thing….when I was born, I finally understood why you are the way you are, reliving your childhood sucks. Everyone treats like you can't do a damn thing for yourself, and worse yet, they've already decided on my career, which gather you have already gotten the pleasure of, you highness." Val let out, giggling a bit.

Hiero smirked, then rubbed the back of his head gingerly. "yeah, I never thought I'd be royalty, let alone a Draconian prince with…added psychic abilities thanks to my new mother. I went through hell yesterday….I saw a my Uncle Daisuke die….Myrna's father…hey, where is she?" Hiero said quietly, then looked past Val. Val cringed a bit, recalling what had been behind him and screamed earlier.

"Oops, I think we knocked her off the bed." Val blushed. Hiero just gawked at him and then peered over the bed's edge. Seconds later he yelped and was thrown backwards by a ball of pink and yellow, the little cat-girl from before.

"LORD HIWO! Dat meanie knocked me off da bed. I got a owee on my butt and tail." Myrna chirped, licking Hiero's face frantically, one hand on his hip and the other holding her tail. Val got a good view of her white underpants since her rear was high in the air in this precarious position and felt himself blush all over. Maybe he wasn't getting turned on, but it was something he knew he shouldn't be looking at right now.

Hiero sat up, then looked at Val's red face and giggled. "Val's blushing….Oh stop it, Pinku Chiisai. You're drowning me. I want you to meet someone special to me," Hiero giggled out, shoving Myrna off his lap, turning her pink-haired head towards Val," This is Val, my bestest friend."

Myrna let her mouth drop a little as she peered at Val curiously, sniffing at him before giving a wary smile. "Val Ondrea Schezar, at your service m'lady Myrna. Hiero, she's cute." Val teased. Hiero smiled a bit, giving Myrna a gentle shove towards Val.

"He smells safe….Lord Hiwo, I tauwt I was your best fwiend." Myrna pouted ever so sweetly. Val could almost feel Hiero getting sick.

"You're my best female friend, my little sister. My friend….but as my friend, you should accept my other friend, and do me a favor for another…oh say, handful of cinnamon sticks, hmm?" Hiero said pleasantly, a seductive tone taking over his childish voice.

"Sweeties for me? Oh Lord Hiwo! Anyting!" Myrna piped, bouncing up and down. "Go down to the party early and make sure you keep them away from this room for a few hours, okay? If you succeed, you get two handfuls. Can you do that for your big brother?"

"Sure, you got it, Safaia-kimi! I won't fail you, Lord Hiwo! Bye-bye, Lord Hiwo. Bye-bye, Val-kun!" Myrna chirped, licking both boys' cheeks before bolting out of the room on all fours.

Val blinked a few times after her, his blushing long gone. "Energetic, isn't she Val-kun?" Hiero teased. Val just looked at his friend incredulously. "Still teasing, Hiero, always teasing me. I think you love to make me blush for some reason."

Hiero shrugged with a quirky grin. "You're cute when you blush. Hey, want to see something neat? I found out about it yesterday, right before…well, all hell broke loose in my head."

"Sure, then tell me what happened afterwards. What is it?" Val asked, his eyes brimming with eagerness. Hiero crawled backwards on his knees a bit, then lifted his hands up to turn them into tightening fists, then made his face strain, his cheeks puffing up a bit and his eyes slamming shut. In a blast of whiteness, Val nearly fell off the bed as lovely shock white wings sprouted out of Hiero's back, like the wings of an angel. Val thought of his own wings for a moment, though his came out black and were only part of his transformation into his ancient dragon form.

Hiero wasn't an ancient dragon, nor was he fully human, but to sprout wings was sure something. Val had only seen his last mother, Filia Ul Copt sprout wings, never himself. All Val could do was stare at the beauty of the wings, both a little bigger than Hiero's body. They fluttered a bit before he nestled them again his back. Flexing them out once more before settling them.

"Wow! So those legends about Draconians are true, the winged race exists and you're a part of it now. How?" Val breathed, standing up wobbling on the soft bed to touch the wings. They were as soft as fine silk, and warm, full of life, just like Hiero. His friend was watching him delight at the experience.

"My father and I are the last of the Draconian race, they died out in some great holy war in the past in the city of Atlantis. It's like a another dimension or something. Dad hasn't explained it fully to me, but that's what my dream spell is for. Though, its harder to delve into minds affected by psychic powers already apparently. It took me years to fully absorb Lina and Zelgadis' memories fully, this will take time too. I've only gotten up to when my parents were in Palas, running from someone name Dilandau. Now there's a guy with fire in his soul." Hiero said quietly, looking a bit euphoric about it.

Val looked down at him, cocking his aqua head to the side. "Dilandau? My Dad and Aunt Celena had a fight about that guy's name. Who was he?"

"Pretty boy pyromaniac general, real neat too. Father hurt his face….I guess this Dilandau was very vain, it seemed to make him go crazy. Still, to have a guymelef that shoots flames and had liquid metal weapons, who cares? He had short silver hair and red eyes, wore black and red armor. He even had a bunch of other guys in blue armor called Dragon Slayers….," Hiero said evenly, then looked away," Not that I like the idea that I have to kill a dragon either, but to have seen their battles would beat the brooding depression trips my parents have. They are so boring, and my mother cursed my head with her powers. It was bad enough having visions in my sleep, but I hadn't had anything these six years until yesterday. I had a vision when I was wide awake….of my uncle's death, like I was actually there."

"Sounds rough….you weren't acting I hope. That'd be beneath you Hiero. Was he a good…uh, cat-person?" Val asked.

Hiero nodded. "Yes….but I managed to save his wife, my Aunt Merle. At least I saved her, but still….I couldn't save him. I can never save family forever. I don't know why I always lose everyone. Why can't bloody Delphine leave me alone."

"Because he's an asshole God who still holds a grudge, but you still have me, Hiero. I'll always be with you, friends forever. I love you too much to abandon you when I'm the only one who really understands you. We're both the last of our kind in two ways, I'm the last of my world and you're the last of yours, in a pure sense, and we're both the last of our races. There will never be anymore magic-absorbers or ancient dragons ever, we're it, and we've got to stick together, like we promised." Val said quietly, placing his small hand on Hiero's shoulder.

Hiero raised his green and blue eyes up to him, a gentle smile on his lips. "Thanks, Val, you're always there for me. I love you too, my friend, my brother." Hiero sniffled a bit, then the boys hugged each other tightly," Forever friends, no matter what Delphine pulls."

"Who's Delphine?" said a gentle voice.

Val and Hiero froze, feeling embarrassed for a moment until they recalled that they were still in children's bodies. They turned their heads around, cheek to cheek and looked at the woman that was standing in the doorway.

~

A muscle in Val's cheek hardened against Hiero's as he let out three simple words," Hello Aunt Celena."

Hiero felt his heart thump a little faster. 'Aunt Celena? This babe is Val's aunt, dammit, why do I have to be a little brat now!?' he silently raged, trying to keep his face calm. He stared at the silvery-blonde-haired woman, a slight smile creeping up his small face, his wings fluttering a bit. The woman known as Celena was looking at them with disdain, then awe, then she was utterly indifferent, but kept her eyes trained on him.

"You're so beautiful." Hiero said, forgetting to censor his thoughts. He felt himself blush, but secretly he was glad he hadn't said anything sexual. She might throw him out the window for that or tell his parents.

The woman blushed back and walked slowly towards them, her ivory gown with a few strands of red lace looped about the hem and her waist swishing softly. Her eyes were blue-gray to him, like a passing storm. He could almost see lightening crackle in the alluring depths as she looked at his wings again, then at Val and Hiero.

Slowly, she reached out and snatched Hiero up with her gloved hands and held him at eye level, curiosity taking over her face as she examined him, shifting his body from left to right, but her eyes always wound up looking at his wings again. He felt ashamed all of a sudden, recalling briefly the lecture his father had given him after his father and mother had seen he discovered his wings. His father had said never to show anyone his wings unless he had no other choice. Hiero had wanted to share it with Val cause he knew he could trust him, but that was all he had planned on.

Quickly he strained himself again and forced the wings away, starling Celena, but not enough to make her drop him. "Daddy taught you how to hide them, hmm?" she said knowingly, a smirk on her face. Hiero shrugged nonchalantly and matched the smirk.

"So what? Stupid growths were itching. Hello, Lady Celena, I see Myrna isn't getting a double reward for letting you slip past her. You must be quite the stealth beauty." Hiero commented, smiling at her. To his surprise she smiled back and kissed his cheek.

"At least you aren't stuffy like your father, or insensitive. I wasn't invited to this little get-together." She told him, setting him on the floor.

"Nope. Father needs to live a little, he's so boring and expects too much of me. Why can't I enjoy my childhood and have some fun? Is it so wrong, Lady Celena?" Hiero replied as Val got off the bed.

"Yeah, Aunt Celena knows what it's like to be kept down by stuffy jerks. Not to be cruel to my Daddy, but he can be a bore sometimes with his chivalry nonsense. I can't even play with other boys anymore, all I get is my sword master most of the day and Aunt Celena plays with me. At least she's fun," Val put in, ruffling Hiero's hair," Now I have a friend, Aunt Celena. His name is…."

"Hiero Scorchava de Fanel, heir apparent to the throne of Fanelia. I've heard. He is rather cute, isn't he, he'll grow up to be a very….very handsome young man. How delightful. My Dragon….uh, my old friends would have looked up to him as I am."

Hiero couldn't help it and laughed a bit. "But you're looking down at me….I'm too short for anyone to admire me." Hiero piped innocently.

Celena laughed too, a hint of insanity laced through each pitch she reached. "A smart ass too. Hmmm, interesting. You have good taste in friend, little Val, unlike your father Oh dear, I nearly forgot." Celena was saying, then rushed to Hiero's dresser and pulled out a shirt and threw it at him.

"What? Ooomph!" Hiero asked, tugging his shirt off his face and over his body. He nearly got hit in the face with his boots as they were flung at him, but they hit the bedposts instead. He put them off swiftly as Celena waited, tapping her foot impatiently. No sooner was he dressed did she grab both boys by the hand and drag them out of the room.

"I forgot, big brother and Van sent me up here a little while ago to fetch you for the party early, then that little cat-brat Myrna came in and scratched my sister-in-law's

dress up. Last I saw they were chasing her around the room to get the stolen fabric back. It was most amusing, best laugh I have had in a while." Celena breathed out, dragging the boys down the winding halls.

~ Throne Room ~

"Open your presents Lord Hiwo. Mommy and my gift first! Please! Please!" Myrna said loudly, bouncing up and down on the floor with her gift in her little hands.

Hiero smiled from the throne his father had placed him on only an hour ago after Hiero made Myrna give Millerna back the fabric. It wasn't much of an event and neither was the eating of the sweet cakes and delicious roast pig dinner that the Fanelian Castle chef had prepared.

Hiero and Val tore through their meals and had nearly snuck sips of Fanelian vintage Celena offered them, but his father and Sir Allen smacked their hands away and scolded the three of them. 'Killjoys, I just wanted s stupid sip. I haven't had decent wine in ages.' Hiero though harshly as Myrna and Aunt Merle's gift was plopped into his lap. It was a round gift wrapped in cheap fabric, the equivalent of wrapping paper in this world.

He fingered it a moment curiously before taking the silken ribbon out of its pretty bow that held the gift within. It was a large egg shaped thing made of wood. There was a crank on the side, which he slowly started to turn it.

As he did, the egg opened up in his lap and spirally metal dragons and angels inside were dancing within on the cloud painted insides. It was playing a little tune, one his father had taught him called "Dragon Bride." It was rather pretty, but it was still a music box, a girl's present. 'Still, it's from the heart. They are saying they don't mind my wings. So this is what Uncle Daisuke died for….it's pretty.' He thought then looked up affectionately at his aunt and her daughter.

"I love it, its pretty. Thank you Aunt Merle, Myrna. I'll treasure it." He replied gently, then handed the gift off to his mother, who in turn gave it to a male servant. The next gift was from Allen, Millerna, and Val. Seeing Val was gift enough, but his parents didn't know that.

The gift was held within a red box with a fancy lace bow on top. He opened it up quickly, throwing the lid away before digging into the box for the present. He wanted to frown so badly when he saw the gift, and looked at Val to see him grimacing for him. It was an ugly shirt, ugly for the fact that it was green with tan embroidery. He felt ill, and looking at Millerna and Allen smiling at him made him feel worse. 'Who killed the tailor and slaughters the iguanas for this ugly thing. I hope no expects me to wear this piece of shit. Ugh, aside from Val, these ninnies lack any taste, like that namagomi fruitcake Xellos. Bleh! Time to lie, goodie, goodie.' He thought crossly, putting his best fake smile on.

"How lovely, Thank you, Sir Allen, Lady Millerna, val. You don't know how much this means to me." He said with all the sweetness he could muster without vomiting. Allen and Millerna smiled and patted his head while Val and now Celena went on grimacing and mouthing they had nothing to do with it.

He stuffed it back in the box and shoved it towards his mother quickly, trying to remain pleased, but his teeth were starting to ache. The next gift came from his parents, and it was in a box too. It was a silver bangle that looked like a dragon, but it looked too big. There was something dangling from it too, his mother's prized pendant. "Wow! Neat, thanks Father! Thank you, Mother. But, isn't it a bit big? An adult could wear this better than me. And isn't this Mother's jewelry?" Hiero piped, stroking his fingers along the fine craftsmanship.

His father smiled and took the box and bangle away from him. "It is a gift we couldn't wait to give you. The bangle is when you've grown into a man and can wear it as a proud king. The pendant….is from your mother fully. She wants you to have her good luck charm, handed down to you as it was to her by her grandmother. It will bring you great luck, my son, as it did her."

"I'll even teach you how to use it tomorrow, if you'd like." His mother said brightly, taking the pendant off the bangle and dropping it over his head to settle around his neck. He smiled and finger it gently, taking in the gentle pink glow it gave off, reminding him of something, yet he could recall what it was.

"Thank you, Mother. I'll treasure it forever and ever. What a wonderful birthday, such wonderful presents." He piped happily, clapping his hands gleefully.

"I have a present for the prince." Celena said suddenly, all eyes on her. Hiero looked up curiously as the Schezar woman had nothing in her hands. She looked at Val and smiled. "Val, it's in the carriage under the spot I was sitting in, would you go fetch it for me?" she asked politely. Val nodded and ran off before anyone could stop him. Sir Allen looked positively irate, as if his sister needed his permission to breathe.

Hiero sneered a bit, but wiped it off his face just as quickly as Val ran right back inside holding a lavender box, one a little longer his arms. As he ran to his aunt, she was taking off her gloves and tucking them on the waistband of her dress, then took the gift up gently. She stepped right up to Hiero and carefully opened the box for him to reveal its contents.

Hiero stared wide eyes at a large dagger, just as big as Val's arm he had to honestly guess since the box was slightly bigger. It was oddly shapes, like a side view of a dragon's head without the eyes, but it looked sharp and wicked, begging to be slashed about. Hiero reached in for the hilt and took it out, his little double colored eyes alive with interest, his mouth practically drooling. He gave it a few swipes in the air before looking up the thank Celena, but he stopped. Her eyes looked red for a moment, flashing in and out of her stormy eyes, her mouth crooked a bit into an excited grin and one hand lifted off the box stroking nothing.

He felt a sudden uneasiness building inside, but had the urge to touch her hand, as if it meant his life depended on it. He didn't wait another second as the red left her eyes and her smile vanished, grabbing her hand with his free one tightly, then everything went red.

~

"Dilandau Albatou, step forward!" a deep commanding voice boomed throughout Hiero's senses. He was on the floor, a very dark and cold one, unlike the wooden and amber floors of the castle. Everything was dark and cold, almost constraining, as if he were in a tomb.

Hiero looked to the voice, a large man with a brown beard and mustache, one wearing bronze colored armor. He was looking at someone at the base of the steps to the throne he was in front of, a dark throne only illuminated by blue flames. Hiero walked closer, knowing it was another vision. There was a young man, a little taller than he was, kneeling on the dark floor wearing black armor tight on his body. His hair was short and silvery, more true to the metallic color than Celena hair and the back cropped close to the youth's head. His had a few long bands that jutted out of either side of his head, like upside-down horns. As Hiero went in front of him, he was fully convinced it was a vision since the garnet red eyes of the young man were staring right through him.

"Dilandau Albatou, you have slain the most dragons of the recruits in your age group, thusly you have earned the honorable mention to me, General Adelfos. You will be dubbed the general of my elite force known as the Dragon Slayers. What say you, boy?" the man said proudly.

The youth called Dilandau stood up quickly, then stiffened his body to attention. "I will command them with your and my own honor in mind. I will lead the Dragon Slayers to victory over our enemies, I command from them nothing less than total obedience and servitude unto death, my General." Dilandau said with perfect arrogance and control, his arms tightly kept against his sides.

Hiero was amazed at how someone so young could pull it off, having such loyalty pounded it to him as if he were pre-programmed to do it. Hiero could feel the power emanating from his body, the pure arrogance and insanity in his eyes dazzling Hiero's.

The scene quickly faded out and he saw five young men in blue armor similar to Dilandau's kneeling a way from where he was standing, one arm laid across their chests. The one at the end had very puffy and curly mint green hair, the one beside him had silvery-blonde hair like Celena's, only shorter and with sharp and short bangs up from. Beside him was an adorably boyish looking young man with frightened blue eyes and pageboy haircut of blond hair.

The next young man had shoulder length brown hair, his own brown eyes quivering, bowing in the same manner, but his lips were twitching, as if he were trying not to cry. Then there was the last one, a young man with black hair and two stray lengths of his hair formed curly bangs that hung towards the cheekbones, his gray eyes aimed down and away from the one next to him. There were other men behind him, some older and some not, but they didn't looks scared, their eyes only held pity.

Then he heard the voice, arrogance and boyish innocence all rolled into one with a hint of insanity teeming at the surface. It was utterly devil may care, almost similar to his own childish voice of present, but it commanded respect.

"Two Alseides against those boorish knights? TWO were damaged?" it asked, struggling for patience. Hiero backed up a bit to see an older, slightly taller version of Dilandau Albatou sitting on the throne, his black armor now underneath the red trench coat type armor. He also wore a golden tiara on his forehead, his flowing bangs forced a little higher by it.

Hiero looked back at the young men, watching the pageboy blonde and the one with the shoulder length brown hair stand up and approach Hiero and Dilandau, their heads bowed down in fear.

"W-We apologize!" they stammered together, shaking a bit.

Dilandau bit on of his darkly gloved fingers, his red eyes twitching dangerously, then stared both of them down as he stood up. "Step forward!" Dilandau commanded.

The pair obeyed and were slapped down violently in the blink of an eye, both holding their faces now in pain and cringing on the floor. "How pathetic despite having the Stealth Cloaks. Are you trying to ruin my name?!" Dilandau yelled at them, his angry face powerful enough to make both young men remain on the floor.

The two young men crawled back to the others, still holding their cheeks. "We're very sorry!" they stammered together.

Dilandau seemed unsatisfied with their apologies, his angry face never leaving theirs. "I won't repeat this again! I don't need incompetence in my Dragon Slayers! Do you understand?"

"Sir!" they replied, obviously agreeing. "All right then, The rest of you, get back your posts. Dalet! Chesta! You two go repair your guymelefs and train until the sun rises. That will teach you two to be sloppy and expect me to let it slide. Now go!" he commanded, sending everyone out of the room after they bowed to him. The ones known as Dalet and Chesta waited until they had gone before retreated from the room, their Lord Dilandau looking after them, still ticked off, his nose upturned at their retreating backs.

"Weaklings….how dare they be damaged by those country bumpkin samurai. I'll beat them back into submission, then they'll think twice about screwing up in my Dragon Slayers force." Dilandau added harshly, crossing his arms over his chest before exiting the room himself.

'Hmm, he'd be fun to play with, a temper like that could be useful, yes?' Hiero thought, a small smile creeping up his face.

The scene faded out again, Hiero still in the same room, but Dilandau was sitting on his throne, rubbing his cheek. What he was saying was barely audible, but what Hiero could make out was "cheek." He suddenly saw the pageboy trying to talk to him, and get punched and nearly choked for his efforts, then toss to the ground. "My face! He cut my beautiful face!" Dilandau screamed, holding hi right cheek. The pageboy was on the ground holding his own face, whatever his name was Hiero didn't know. Dilandau hadn't exactly said which one of the two he'd slapped was Chesta and which one was Dalet. Pageboy was good enough, and he didn't seem to be saying much either, only moaning in pain on the floor with a red mark on his cheek. But the scene was short lived and faded once again into a new one, yet the same boring dark throne room.

"I'm coming in!" said a voice, very innocent, yet a bit of pride to the voice. Dilandau got off his throne and Hiero saw he had a scar on his cheek that was reddish brown. 'Hmm, Dilandau's scar from my father, this must be what he was going through. Heh, and I thought the Mazuko race was vain and arrogant. He needs a good beating…so he'll be more fun.' Hiero thought, then heard Dilandau mutter a name under his breath, looking at the silvery-blonde-haired boy that was coming into the room.

"Gatti…."Dilandau said very softly, but rather didn't sound as if he was pleased to be interrupted and started to sneer," What happened?"

"Sir, His Excellency General Adelfos has sent us a message." Gatti replied holding out a scroll in his hand and opened it up to read, but waited. Dilandau seemed a little more eager now, but also startled, his eyes growing smaller. "From his Excellency Adelfos? Read it." Dilandau ordered.

"Yes sir. We're ordered to occupy Freid. We'll head for Asturia with my army." Gatti read aloud, looking dead at the letter and nothing else.

A new voice erupted, a deep and indifferent one from a deep dark corner. Hiero couldn't see him until he stepped out of the shadows. Hiero thought of all the vampires he'd ever faced upon seeing this tall aqua haired man with red eyes, the cloak so tightly about him, Hiero thought it'd crush the man at any moment. He had a purple tear tattoo under his eyes. Hiero didn't know him, but he felt he should.

"One of the four general's himself? The location of the power spot has been found huh?" the man said.

"Then, what Emperor Dornkirk's been looking for was finally located." Dilandau said snidely, cocking his silver head to the side.

"The Destiny Predictor spotted the shadow of the dragon. Capture it before the operation begins." Gatti went on, but Dilandau was already running off the throne area

"Alright!" the general beamed wickedly, but his run was cut short when Gatti said with a little smile on his face," Postscript. Don't have too much fun."

The aqua-haired man seem to find a little humor in Gatti's announcement and let out a small chuckle, barely audible to the untrained ear. Gatti rolled the scroll back up and turn to Dilandau, who looked positively irate. Gatti paid it no mind as he began to speak. "That was *smack*," he began but Dilandau smacked his right across the face. Gatti recovered quickly and glared a bit at his master, then began his words again. "That was all."
The scene faded out as the aqua-haired man approached both young men, and Hiero found himself standing on water, right on the surface. He waited a moment, but nothing happened, he just went on standing there. 'So why is this a part of Celena's memories anyway? Was she a Dragon Slayer or something. I'm getting a headache from all the slapping in her head.' He thought, looking around again for a while until something caught his eye.

It was little girl in a pretty dress with long silver blond hair, wavy and wild like the open sea. She was holding a bouquet of wild flowers, one of them slipping from her grip into the still waters of the pond Hiero was standing on. He didn't know who it was until he saw her eyes, like that of a storm. "Celena! That's her as a little kid….but why show me her after showing me Dilandau?" he said aloud.

As if on cue, while the little girl was reaching for a flower she had dropped in the water, a group of cloaked men came out of nowhere and grabbed her. She screamed, but it was short lived as they used some kind of potion on her and stuff her unconscious body in a sack.

The scene flashed violent as the waters beneath him began to rage and distort, wrapping around his body like tentacles. He screamed when he couldn't breath, the water filling his lungs and body like a virus. As suddenly as it had begun, it ended and he was lying on his back in a puddle of water. It didn't seem bad at first until he opened his eyes and saw he was on the ceiling, little Celena strapped to a table a few feet below him in a torn shirt and dark pants. There were tubes and needles sticking out of her and her pretty hair had been cut terribly short. She was screaming at the top of her lungs when the tubes and needles began to pump stuff into her body, the four men in cloaks appearing around her, mumbling out their words so terribly Hiero couldn't catch a damn thing. All he was aware of that Celena was in pain, maybe dying.

Then, he watched as the unthinkable happened right before his very eyes. The screams a of the little girl became those of a little boy, the blonde colors in her hair went white, like pure quicksilver, her childishly happy and heart shaped face becoming lithe and slim, her girlish lashes pulling in and her height increased slightly. When she opened her eyes, understanding dawned on Hiero. Her eyes were red now, as red and mad as Dilandau's. He truly understood why Allen was so angry about the gift, about Celena training, and why his father was so edgy around her during the party. Celena was Dilandau, or was.

'Why did they hurt her like that? The both of them even? What did they do to deserve their fates to be altered for these sick bastards' wishes?' Hiero wondered, then bit his lip and gasped when the boy Dilandau looked up at him and smiled.

Hiero felt light as everything but Dilandau disappeared, unnerved that something in his vision could see him. "So you know, huh, kid?" Dilandau spouted arrogantly.

Hiero matched it, making Dilandau take a step back. "I guess you're Celena's subconscious leftover of Dilandau Albatou. You still exist, I saw your eyes take hers over at the party." Hiero countered just as proudly.

"Smart, huh? And strong, I like that, Hiero of Fanelia. Well, you don't seem to mind me as much as your elders do, perhaps we can have some fun after all like you wanted to. We could really raise hell in battle." Dilandau smoothed out, walking off a bit through the darkness.

"Yeah….but how, you're inside Celena….Did you hear that?" Hiero said, his train of thought jarred by a soft singing voice. Dilandau seemed to hear it too, and turned with him. Hiero walked away from him to investigate, but young Dilandau ran after him, the singing growing louder and more alluring with every step.

~

Hiero walked on, dully aware Dilandau had latched onto his shirt to keep up with his energetic pace. Dilandau wasn't skilled in maneuvering through the mind when memories were locked away from him, and Hiero had to bet neither he nor Celena were aware of it.

Still, Hiero wasn't feeling good about approaching this well hidden memory. Anything with as many safeguards around it as this one had to be important, and worth killing for. "So, Dilandau, who were those boys you slapped around? You weren't exactly specific with any of them but Gatti." Hiero piped suddenly.

He looked to his side and found Dilandau was now latched onto his hand and looked rather curious about him, then shrugged with an almost wistful smile. "The blonde one was Chesta and the brunette was Dalet. I might as well tell you, I don't get to talk much anymore since I was silenced. I'll be trapped here forever thanks to Dornkirk and Folken. I would have been born naturally through Celena and Folken if the fate alteration crap had never happened….as my memory serves me. I am fully aware of what they said when they were prodding me." Dilandau said haughtily, then with anger.

"What about the other ones? Who were they? Where are they now?" Hiero asked quietly, mentally aiming themselves where the signing felt strongest. Dilandau shrugged again with smile, looking pleased.

"Guimel, he was the one with the fluffy, he was worthless most often in his guymelef…but still, loyal. The one with the black hair was Ryuon, a very skilled fighter, but not skilled enough to prevent Van from killing him. I didn't know him so well. There was another one, Migel Labariel, he wasn't being punished in my memory, since I didn't send him there. He was far too loyal and brilliant, just not enough common sense to return and take his punishment for being captured like a man. He's probably the only one of my slayers that wasn't killed by your stupid father. All of the others died at his hand, the demon." Dilandau said proudly, squeezing Hiero's hand tightly as anger flashed repeatedly over his face.

"No one said my father was a pushover, then again, I haven't gotten that far in his memories or Celena's to see their ends. From what I feel inside your consciousness, she loved them all, like her children, you loved them as your friends, and it got mixed up into insanity….but then again, what's wrong with insanity? I've been insane for a long time now." Hiero said matter-of-factly.

Dilandau gawked at him a moment, his features twisting with disbelief. "You're just a kid, how the hell can you be insane?"

"I'll tell you sometime, if I ever come into Celena's head again. Ah, the singing is coming from that ripple over there, do you see it?" Hiero said slyly, then pointed. It was like the darkness before them was made of water, Hiero had heard it at first, then seen it only a few feet away, the singing cascading through it beautifully.

"I see it, what does it lead to?" Dilandau asked warily. Hiero shrugged and ran for the ripple. "We'll never know if we stand here like a couple of wimps. Come on Lord Dilandau, catch me if you can, if you're brave enough." Hiero taunted, leaping through the ripple swiftly. He heard Dilandau swear briefly, then a splashing noise as Dilandau followed.

One is one,

The Soul is thee

Let emotions run,

Let the heart be free.

Hiero hit the floor hard, then felt Dilandau land on top of him, his face ramming into Hiero's back. "Ich! Could be a little more obvious, this may be my vision, but it still hurts. Get off me, Dilandau." Hiero griped, shoving the other boy off hard. Dilandau landed on his own back and then turned his head to probably sneer, but stopped in the middle of it. He was looking at some, his little garnet eyes quivering with fright as his skin paled further.

One is one,

The Soul is thee

Let emotions run,

Let the heart be free.

'That damn song again….the one from my parents' memories….a woman's voice.' Hiero thought then followed Dilandau's horrified gaze to its source, Celena's naked body chained to a wall. She looked terribly, her hair quite short and black and blue bruises all over her beautiful form. Beside her a frail looking elfin woman, one with shock white silver hair down to her rear wearing a flowing white gown with gold embroidery and big purple bow about her small waste. She had the saddest blue eyes as she stared up at Celena, the battered woman who looked to be in a never-ending trance. The frail woman was singing the song to her.

Hiero heard a rustle of chains and the scraping of flesh against stone. Hiero cautious moved his small eyes past the singing woman and nearly choked on his own breath. All across the rest of the wall were more women chained up and in endless trances, naked but not beaten. Each one had strange symbols painted on their bellies, painted in fresh blood. He counted them off and found there were six other women with Celena and the singer, all with the life drained from their eyes, not even struggling despite their horrible predicament.

"Is she ready, Sora?" a familiar deep and cold voice asked. Hiero saw the aqua-haired man again.

The frail woman looked to him with a wistful smile, but it faded away into a blank stare. "Yes, Lord Folken. 'Tis the third day and Death must be conceived. You shall paint the symbol, it is all you need I have already fed her the potion of my blood and the Draconian feathers. All you need to do is help her conceive." The woman said quietly.

"Bastard. Folken, you fucking bastard!" Dilandau yelled, running for Folken with all his might and leapt to tackle him, but he went right through him and landed hard on his front. Despite that, he looked up the man in disgust.

"Folken? This man is my uncle….but I thought he was dead. You became Celena after he died….unless….he was brought back….but how?" Hiero wondered aloud, walking over to Dilandau to help him up. Dilandau shoved him away angrily, more intent on giving hateful glares towards Folken.

"Excellent Sora, soon the prophecy of the seven angels will come true, and the gods of death and war will rise to choose Gaia's fate. Either way, I will rule this pitiful world forever when the gods choose me to be their messenger of death. And speaking of which, it is time to give Fate what was supposed to happen before Dornkirk muddled things with his stupidity, take Celena Schezar's purity away….and create the devil himself anew." Folken smirked, starting to undo his cloak.

Sora just stood and started to leave, but Folken quickly brought her against him as his cloak fluttered to the ground and kissed her. She weakened in his arms, but only for a moment. When she stood straight again he released her and smiled wickedly, then moved towards the hypnotized Celena.

"Dilandau will be reborn….heh, at the cost of this stupid whore's life. Then we can collect him and Van's son. Two angels down, and then we just wait for the rest, the Mystic Moon child, the knight's boy, and three faithful Dragon Slayers. They won't know what's coming until it is too late, they will never know, never defy Zaibach again!, it will be glorious, Sora. Don't you agree?" Folken laughed coldly, removing his cloak to reveal his bare chest and arms and the dark pants he wore beneath.

"Yes, Lord Folken. And I will wipe this memory from her once you are….done. Do not harm her further. She must not appear to be raped. These births will take 10 years to complete themselves, giving the boys all of the memories of their past lives. I wish this not to be one of them. For the sake of your fate, my lord." She said quietly, then left the room slowly.

Folken sighed, and stroked Celena's body. "No wonder your kind are nearly extinct. You care too much for the little things." He sighed, then started working to take down his pants.

Hiero and Dilandau turned their backs, not wanting to see what was coming, but they could hear it. Hiero cringed at each wet pounding of flesh to flesh and flesh to stone. "Ewww, I didn't want to see someone screwing someone else….that's gross. Ugh, make it stop, bleh! I'd rather be banging some hottie, not hear someone else, especially rape."

"I agree. He is filth, even I wouldn't rape a woman….not one like that. Never! He's is utter trash, he's raping….me….no, not me, he's raping my mother. So it was really true, I was meant to be her son, not her specifically. Dornkirk, you foul bastard! I'm going to burn Zaibach to the ground! BURN!! Right after I turn Folken into a bloody eunich! Ugh, does he ever stop? How long does it take this guy to get it up?" Dilandau complained, putting his hands over his ears hard to block out the noise.

Hiero did the same, but it wasn't helping. They were in Celena's mind, not in real life, there was no blocking anything out right now. "I'll help you gladly. He's really going to get it for using my body as a vessel for his dumb prophecy, and yours and Val's. How dare he. I'm going to shove your dagger so far up his ass, he'll be taste steel forever. The creep! Ugh….my head! AHHHHHHH!!!! NO!" Hiero started screaming. Dilandau stopped covering his ears to knee by him, watching him with wide and shocked eyes.

"What? What wrong?" he asked, grabbing Hiero by the face, but all Hiero could do was hold his head and thrash about. "I….for him to live, she must die, for him to live, she must die! Ugh, Dilandau!! Don't….don't give in, if not for yourself, for your slayers. He's….Argh, bringing them all back for the prophecy!!!! NO!! He'll destroy you after, destroy you….run away! Take them and run away, destroy Folken…..destroy! Destroy DESTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!" Hiero screamed, so loudly he nearly felt his vocal cords snap.

~

Hiero felt his face get slapped, warm fluids streaking across his face, but he couldn't stop screaming. He didn't know if anything understood him, but at least he knew he was no longer in Celena's mind. She was out cold on the floor with a bloodied hand, four puncture wounds in her palm. He saw blood on his fingers, the hand that had grabbed hers and he was writhing on the floor before the throne. He saw his father and mother trying to stick something in his mouth, a big wooden dowel big enough to fit across his mouth.

'Don't want me to bite my tongue off, I must be convulsing like crazy. I'm not used to this….this is different. It hurts….gods, I hope mother teachers me how to control her curse soon. I can't take this anymore.' He thought, then he spat the dowel out and it slammed against Allen's the forehead.

"One is one, the Soul is thee. Let emotions run, let the heart be free." Hiero chanted out, then he did it again and again, his control over his voice lost. He watched vacantly, curling up into a fetal position, repeating the song again. He was vaguely aware that his parents' faces paled, then looked at each other fearfully. He saw Val was nearby, looking very scared and worried.

'Sorry Val….I'll explain it later….I promise….ah shit, here it comes.' He thought, his small mouth opening again as he sat up straight in a flash, nearly scaring everyone to death. He pointed at Celena and began to speak, his voice distant and deep, as if he were an adult," Death wings will come, for him to live, she will die. For him to live, she will die. For him to live, she will die. Folken….will steal the devil's own….steal, steal, steal the angels of Gaia and choose fate. Fate, fate, fate is what we make. The angel of death is coming." He let out, feeling funny all the way through.

He snapped out of it just as quickly as it ended, fully aware of what happened, and he shrank a bit, not liking all the startled eyes on him. "Hiero…." Val said, breaking free from his mother's side to embrace Hiero tightly. Hiero hugged him back. "Thank you…." he whispered and dug his face into Val's shoulder.

He wasn't in pain anymore, nor was he afraid, but everyone expected it of him, with the exception of Val. He felt another small body ram into them with a hug, Myrna of course from the licks he was getting on his face.

"I think….we best retire for the night. I'll have the guards look after your sister, Sir Allen. We've all had….a bizarre day." Hiero heard his father say in a forced tone.

"Yes, we'll leave tomorrow though, my sister and I. Val and Millerna can stay, at least for a few more moons. I trust your best samurai and their guymelefs will escort them back." Allen said crossly, narrowing his eyes on Hiero. Hiero felt the stare on him and looked up angrily, holding Val tighter.

"Yes, you can trust in Fanelia. Come now, I'll go get the guards. I'll lead you all to your rooms. Hitomi, Merle, watch the children until I return." Van said crispy.

With than he was gone, and the cat-woman and queen patted the children's heads, trying to soothe the pain that Hiero in particular had caused with his own.

Hiero felt sick inside, not particularly liking being doted on like a helpless infant. 'Don't worry Dilandau, you'll be safe. I make sure of it….they won't make you or your slayers puppets they can make and break ever again. I'll see to it. I'll be there for your mother….I will.' Hiero thought, his mouth hardening into a stern line.

To Be Continued….

* The Empress card has to do with the pleasure of the party that Hiero is receiving and being reunited with his long time best friend Val.