Chapter 13

The Hanged Man*

The Ties That Bleed

~ Crusade ~

- The Mountain path to Freid -

Gaddes steered the crusade carefully through the narrow area, the first time actually. Last time one f the other crewmembers had been steering them through here, over 20 years ago. Then it had been an emergency to beat Zaibach to Freid, but just because Zaibach wasn't on its way now didn't mean they wouldn't be, or that this was any less important.

He took a look back at his commander, Allen Schezar, who was currently looking out the windows sternly. The other crewmembers, save for Keo and Pyle, both who were maintaining the engines, were milling about. They had really left in a hurry, Allen coming to their homes at the crack of dawn to alert them Val had run away, but had referred to the young knight as 'her' son. He knew the comment was directed at lady Millerna, but he didn't understand why until his commander explained what Val's circlet was really for. Gaddes was stunned at first, then got even more confused the more that was explained, so he just nodded until his boss was done. He watched painfully as his commander blamed his crying wife of it, saying she got pregnant by an inhuman and lied to him all these years.

Merle was there, so she took offense and slapped Allen hard before running out of the room yowling. Gaddes could understand how much the cat-woman hurt. Her daughter was out there too with Val, both of them young and alone. Maybe Val had his weapons, but if Zaibach Alseides guymelefs attacked them, they'd be dead. Val had learned how to run Scherazade when he was thirteen, and learned fast just like Allen did, but the guymelef had been left behind. Val was smart, and probably had known full well that his father would have found he was running off if the loud clomping footsteps of Scherazade sounded at any time.

Val was a good kid, cute too, so different in demeanor than his father, though the boy had a major hormone problem. Inhumans seemed to be his preference, cat girls, mermaids, and even going so far as the bird races. On occasion he was seen staring at human girls, but the only thing he lacked was the courage to approach them. Allen would have swept those ladies off their feet if had been him, Gaddes knew that, he'd known Allen since they were teenagers.

Val had always hung mostly around the Crusade crew of roughnecks and not Allen or his mother, and sometimes with his Aunt Celena. He seemed to prefer the wild life, not that of dignified grace and fully honor. Knighthood had not calmed the boy down in the least, though it hindered Val's desire to travel abroad and have adventures with duty. Val just adored having a good time, even when Gaddes tutored the boy in the ways of handling the Crusade. Val seemed to understand things faster and better than most boys his age, even his skill with swords and the way of the samurai seemed to be in his blood.

It hurt Gaddes deeply to see Val's parents yelling each other, his sorrow going more out to Millerna. She had been begging Allen to stop yelling and that she was faithful, that Val was his, not an inhuman's. Gaddes didn't like to see the people he admired like this, but Allen was being an ass again, like he was when his father's name was ever mentioned. Allen's only problem, mentally, was that he believed in very good groom and manners, and if anything appeared that stained the family, he would hate it.

Val was nearly similar, but was more carefree. Val only hated people that refused to understand those that were different or allow woman the right to protect themselves. As a Heavenly Asturian Knight, Val had taken an oath to protect those in danger, especially women, but whenever his group came across a tough one, Val would act like she was one of the guys, treating her equally. He wasn't always trying to get in their pants, or skirts, more along the lines Val was very friendly and didn't expect much in return, being too shy if he did.

Gaddes pitied the boy now, shunned by his own father over a horn. Gaddes didn't see what the big deal was about the horn deal, Millerna and Merle saw it too on his head after Allen knocked the boy out, but hadn't said much about it. It didn't seem to bother them as much as it did Allen.

He sighed gently, trying to remember the good times some more. They had all seen the horn trapped in Val's circlet, one he'd purchased when he was just started to hit puberty he gathered. He said it reminded him of Aunt Celena, the one she wore on occasion. Gaddes recalled Allen and Millerna had cringed when he said that, but the fact that it wasn't like his aunt's old tiara and had a large so-called horn ornament made it seem a little less disconcerting. Gaddes, as did the rest of the crew, knew exactly what Celena Schezar had been before Val was even born, she'd been Dilandau Albatou, the most vain and bloodthirsty Zaibach general to ever live.

It still puzzled him how someone so innocent could be transform, physically and mentally, into that abomination that was Dilandau. He was glad Dilandau was gone, though Allen seemed to think otherwise. His commander spoke little of how his sister was murdered, only that it was Hiero Fanel's fault that it happened at all. Allen said the boy was a curse, and he'd brought the monster back by watching Celena die. The funeral had been terrible after her burial, Allen nearly strangling the tearful sapphire-haired boy for the death of his little sister.

Hiero had cursed at Allen and bit his hand when he tried, then ran off screaming and wailing. Allen had taken Val away from Fanelia then, saying he wouldn't come back until either Hiero was dead or finally grew up and became a responsible king. Sadly for Allen, Hiero was very much alive, and now a king, forcing Allen to attend the coronation with his wife and Val. Allen had been positively irate when King Aston had to back up the order to make Allen go. Gaddes bet Hiero took great delight in getting under his commander's skin, to get back at him for spoiling the lovely friendship he and Val seemed to form.

Hiero had always been a weird kid, even the few times Gaddes met the boy with double colored eyes, he couldn't help but feel nervous when around him. Hiero seemed to hold a lot behind his strange eyes, a kid who knew too much too young. The boy had witnessed, somewhat, the murder of his godfather Daisuke, which put him into a temporary coma of sorts. He had his mother's strange mind gifts, more so based on touch than his mother's ever was. The visions seemed to paralyze the boy in painful stances.

The only time Gaddes could clearly recall Hiero having good visions was when Dryden Fassa and his new wife came with their children to pay their respects to the heir to the throne, not long after Allen, Millerna, Val, and Lady Celena had met the boy. Gaddes has flown them there in the Crusade as a personal favor for all Dryden's help in the past. Dryden's own ship was under repairs, and he lacked the money to take care of that and his family, so family came first.

Dryden had been complaining non-stop that his wealth was starting to plummet, and so many decisions had to be made, but no one told him Hiero could tell the future, bad and good. His parents left Hiero alone with Dryden, Gaddes and the Fassa twins, to discuss marriage arrangements since Hiero seemed to get along with Dryden's daughter. The kids scoffed at the insinuation and the king and queen of Fanelia had left him as did his wife to discuss the matter privately.

After an hour of muttering to himself and trying to figure out what to do next with his fortune, Hiero suddenly walked up to him with his mother's Tarot cards and asked to do Dryden's fortune. Dryden thought it was a neat profession, as Hitomi never did readings for him, and it was incredibly cute to see the little boy want to be like his mother. Dryden stopped chuckling when Hiero's reading became deathly accurate, naming those that were stealing from him, lying, and where great fortunes that would set them for life lie.

Hiero said he could douse for Dryden if he wanted him to, if Dryden would let him see his home. Hiero sorely wanted to escape the palace and see what was outside the castle walls, beyond Fanelia. Dryden agreed and waited until his wife and Hiero's parents got back. They were saying they were going to consider Hiero and Orla a perfect match, much to the disgust of both children, who only wanted to have fun, not spoil it with 'mushy stuff.'

Dryden pretended to be behind it, then sneaky as the devil himself, Dryden persuaded them to let Hiero come back home with them so he could know the ways of his place, so he could know more about the family and customs. Queen Hitomi was a bit nervous about it, so was King Van, but after a lot of persuasion, and steady reminders that Fassa had forked over millions in gidaru to save van's life, it was settled.

Gaddes went with them, to make sure Hiero was watched carefully, and if Allen ever needed Gaddes to return, that a replacement guard would be sent in his place until Hiero was to return to Fanelia. The boy prince looked very happy then, a wisp of an eight-year-old, and Val came to visit the Fassa residence often just to be with Hiero. Gaddes thought nothing of it, but sometimes when those two would talk, they almost sounded like adults.

All the while, Dryden and Hiero would go out on dousing treasure hunts, finding rich underground energist deposits, hidden treasures of the ancient civilizations of Gaia, and even help Dryden weed out those trying to rob him blind from within. Dryden even brought Hiero to the market place in Freid and other nearby towns just to get Hiero to point out good deals, bad deals, and liars. Still, Gaddes wondered why Dryden would stoop to using a little mind power endowed kid to help him, and why Hiero seemed to like it more than Dryden. Hiero had strange looks on his face whenever he touched money, a horrible greedy look like he was staring at his prey. It was cute, slightly, but Hiero looked almost as if he were addicted to the sparkling piles of gidaru.

Gaddes brought him back when Hiero said he wanted to see his parents again. Dryden had been more than happy to appease the boy, he'd been so much help, and told the boy, almost jokingly, if he ever wanted anything, anything at all, he had but to name it. Hiero smiled, but sadly, then gave Dryden's leg a hug. It startled the merchant prince, but then he smiled and patted the boy's head.

- Flashback -

~ Palas, Asturia ~

"And we lay Lady Celena Falca Schezar to rest, who was taken well before her time. May this angel of beauty and grace rest in eternal peace, and find her parents on the other side. For the memory of her loving brother Allen Crusade Schezar, sisters-in-law Eries Aria and Millerna Sara Schezar, and her nephews Chid zar Freid and Val Ondrea Schezar, we all wish her happiness in Paradise. Amen." The aged Asturian priest let out calmly. The entire crew was dressed up formally in clean and fancy clothes, not a spec or armor about them. Gaddes stood dutifully next to Allen and Millerna, his eyes focused on the closed coffin. He'd been told Celena had been horribly mutilated in her attack.

He ignored that face and tried thinking about something else, like the organ music that was playing as the coffin was lifted and carried down the red carpeted aisle of the great ivory church. He could hear Allen crying, softly, but he was crying. Gaddes didn't want to see that, so he kept looking at the passing coffin.

As it passed, he saw them across the aisle from the Schezar family and himself, the Fanel royal family. Hiero was standing between his parents, staring blanking ahead, right at Allen. He looked ready to cry, but his cheeks were as dry as a bone. He was holding Celena's, no that monster Dilandau's dagger. He was fingering the hilt nervously, though his eyes betrayed nothing further. It was if the life had been drained from them. 'He did witness the murder, he said the sorcerers were after her and cut her open….while he hid. He said he saw Dilandau come out of her, but that just can't be true. Allen can't even tell us about it, he's been crying ever since he found her body.' Gaddes thought, lifting his eyes to the Fanel adults. King Van looked very upset, his eyes full of tears that couldn't fall, not just yet. They were clouding the guy's eyes terribly, and would fall at the right moment, in van's mind anyway.

Queen Hitomi was weeping, hugging herself tightly in her sorrow. She looked as if the world had ended, tears falling freely and quickly all over her cheeks and gown. Some of the tears were crashing onto her son's sapphire head, but he didn't even react.

After a few minutes, his eyes went back to Hiero, and he wished they hadn't. Allen must have looked at him at some point, maybe to ask Gaddes something or have a shoulder to cry on, but from the disgusted growl his Commander made, Gaddes had to regret staring at Hiero so much.

Allen started to step out onto the carpet and right towards Hiero, but Val ran ahead of him, rushing to embrace Hiero. Val was crying, not as hard as most, but they were still tears. Hiero's expression didn't change, but he let his cheek rest on Val's shoulder, his lips twitching.

Val said nothing when he let go, only started to reach inside his shirt for something. Hiero watched with subtle interest, then his eyes lit slightly when Val pulled out a tiara. 'Dilandau's tiara….but I thought Allen threw all of his things away once he got Celena home. Val….how did you get your hands on that?! Why would want to?!' Gaddes' mind screamed, Allen screaming verbally and with great anger when Hiero took the tiara and stuffed it in his own shirt.

Allen moved swiftly between the boys and shoved Val away so hard the boy fell over. Hiero finally showed some emotion, his expression cross. "What was that for?" the boy spat.

"It's your fault she's dead! All your fault, you little brat, fi you had never touched her, if she had never met you….you….you cursed monster, she'd still be alive! You haven't shed a single tear for her, you didn't try and stop those damned sorcerers from killing her! You're a walking curse, I never want you to be near my son ever again! And you give that…thing's headpiece back so I can melt it, so no one will be reminded of what Celena was foced into." Allen demanded, grabbing the boy violently by the shoulders and shaking him.

The boy's parents were too in shock to react for a few moments, but then Van sprung at Allen and tried to pry him off. Then Allen did the unthinkable. He put his hands around Hiero's neck, trying to strangle the child. Hiero reacted then, tears flooding down his face, rage and sorrow riddled through them. Hiero bit down on Allen's hand, forcing the man to drop him, then bashed Allen's shin in with the hilt of his dagger.

Hiero ran off a few seconds later, wailing at the top of his lungs," I HATE YOU, ALLEN! YOU KILLED HER! YOU'VE ALWAYS KILLED HER!" Gaddes watched in horror as the boy vanished from the building, slight relief trying to get through when Dryden Fassa, Hitomi, and even little Val ran off after him.

'Commander….how could you? He's just a little boy….he couldn't….do anything.' Gaddes thought, his eyes flitting to those of Allen's, gasping at the horrible rage in his deep blue eyes.

- Present -

Queen Hitomi came back alone with a sniffling Val, but Dryden and Hiero didn't come back until much later. Gaddes didn't know where the boy or Dryden had gone too, but they came back to the palace late at night, Hiero fast asleep in Dryden's arms, both of their faces wet with freshly shed tears. Dryden never said where they went or what they did, only that the boy wanted to collect on his favor, and it was so heartfelt Dryden couldn't hold back his tears any longer. He didn't say what the favor was, only that it was important. Dryden left it at that and gave Hiero to his mother, then left with his family immediately. Val and his family left the next morning, saying their good-byes as Allen dragged the aqua-haired boy away. Hiero looked ready to kill Allen then, hate in his young and once innocent eyes.

That was the last time Gaddes saw Hiero and Dryden together, or had seen Hiero at all. Gaddes sighed again, looking back at his commander and frowning at him. He still looked stern as hell, but the memories of the past kept him from shouting at him. Celena's funeral had been the last day anyone had seen the boy prince, his parents never letting him go outside without a guard or one of them present, and never for long or beyond the palace walls. Hiero had become an involuntary hermit, no girls or boys his age to be with, nothing but old people, and his parents, the just old people. The King and Queen of Fanelia were long dead, both assassinated according to rumors. Hitomi's was more believable, the assassin had been caught, but Van's had only been seen by Hiero, the day Hiero took the life of one of his own guards to reach his father.

Gaddes had stayed in Asturia when the coronation had occurred, none of the Crusade crew had been invited, only princes and princesses and friends, dignitaries, people the crew wouldn't be able to keep from laughing at or show respect to. It just wasn't their kind of crowd and Hiero had been very aware of it. Hiero was aware of a lot of things, too much, which was probably why Fanelia was murdered again, to get that boy.

"Gaddes, can't this thing go any faster?" It was Lady Millerna's voice. He didn't look at her, but smiled, his voice coming out quite pleasantly. "Sorry, she'll shatter to pieces if I try to push her any harder. Keo and Teo gave me as much juice as they could, this is it. I am sorry. I can't tell you much better." Gaddes replied, grimacing at her sad sigh, then deepened it when Allen grumbled.

"Why don't you tell her to get her adulterous body off the deck until she can admit Val isn't really my son?" Allen added crassly.

'Ouch….that was uncalled for.' Gaddes thought, feeling worse when he heard Millerna's hurt gasp. "I did not sleep around like you did, Allen Schezar. I'm not the one that slept with all of my sisters, or even Dilandau, or the gods only know how many women you've 'courted.' I forgave all that, and you have the gall to accuse me of such….filth! You have no right to assume it's my fault, if there should be anyone at fault at all. Val is our son our beautiful and strong son! Like it or not, he is and he has a damn horn. Gods, what would you know about fidelity anyway, you….you…..you male whore! Ohhh!!" she yelled, then started to sob and her light, quick steps sounded, retreating.

Gaddes lowered his head, his lips sneering angrily. "Ah, Millerna….dammit…." he heard Allen muttered, then came the pounding of flesh to glass, a slight cracking following.

'That does it….yelling at a woman over something so trivial….and wrecking a ship we just fixed up this month. I'm not paying for another repair job. Glass is damned expensive, not to be paid for time and time again for when he's pissed off.' Gaddes thought.

"Commander!" he stated loudly, letting his eyes slant sideways a bit to see if Allen was listening. His commander turned his head sharply, a startled look in his blue eyes, which soon became cross. "What is it? We have to get to Freid, there is no time for talking now….can't this wai…." Allen stated, but Gaddes cut him off.

"No sir, it can't wait and you're going to listen to me regardless. We've been friends since we were teenagers, sir, but you still haven't changed. You still expect everyone to be like you. You make Dilandau look like an altar boy with perfectionism, but you base it more on only yourself. If anything, even the smallest thing, starts to make you look bad in your mind, you try and get rid of it." Gaddes snapped, making sure the entire crew could hear him.

Allen paled. Gaddes had never spoken so harshly towards him, it was probably new since only Van and Hitomi had spoken in such a manner. He didn't seem to like it anymore now than he did then, and looked condescending. "Me? Worse than Dilandau? How can you say that?" Allen replied heatedly," What would know about the way I feel?"

Gaddes smirked. "I have known you a long time, Commander, I know how you work. I never knew why, but I know you have a way about you that's different from most. Lady Celena wanted to keep trying to be a good sword fighter, but you said no because 'ladies are not meant to fight, men are to protect them.' You are like that with all women, even Hitomi. You never tried to give them a chance to fight if they wanted to, you were scared you'd be fingered as the cause. You demanded nothing less than perfection as a lady from her, and for Val to be a perfect knight," Gaddes rattled on, his tone growing louder and angrier," He's going to take over your position once you retire, he's the youngest Asturian Knight of all. You were so proud of him, he did it all for you, but the moment something different comes up about him or anyone, you dismiss them as if they were an enemy. Lady Millera and lady Merle told us what you said, and you said it all in front of little Myrna too. No wonder she broke him out, she probably thought you'd kill him or something. You just go too far, you distance yourself from people whenever a slight change occurs that you don't understand. SIR! You have no right to point the finger at anyone….he's still your son."

Allen looked aghast, his mouth hung open slightly at the berating he'd just received. 'He's always used to being right, to being the one with grace and dignity. He couldn't be more wrong about himself. What he's done to his wife and child….no one, not even Emperor Dornkirk would deserve such treatment in this situation. There's no excuse but his ego, and that's a lousy excuse.' Gaddes thought, putting his eyes back up ahead.

"Gaddes….I…." Allen tried, but his words ran dry. Gaddes just shook his head. "Just go talk with your wife, rationally, no blaming, no name calling, no diownings. Val is your kid, he's just as stubborn and dedicated as you are to Asturia, and you both raised him right. What does a horn matter? Let him explain it, don't rush to judge him without a word of explanation. Just go talk with your wife….make up. They are all you really have left in the status of family, we're just your friend, Commander. Friends can't replace your family, not always." Gaddes let out, his tone softly.

"yeah….I'll do that….You have control of the bruidge for now, Gaddes." Allen said, his steps sounding gently as he started to walk away. "And Gaddes….?" Allen piped.

"Yes, Commander?"
"Thanks." Allen said gently, then left. Gaddes smiled, hoping his words would hold true for the Schezar family. He hoped, they were so happy once, he didn't want that denied of any of them. They needed each other, especially now with Val missing, Fanelia dead, and Zaibach on the rampage. Love was all people had now that couldn't be stolen, it was something, at least.

~ Floating Fortress Midgar ~

Folken sat on his throne, Sora sitting on the floor beside him, praying again. The Angel of Courage was not within their reach, but a ways from Freid. It'd take that boy another day or two to reach it. The Crusade had been spotted in the same path, but a long ways away from the angel's location. The angel had gotten a head start by three days, thanks to some sabotage on Folken's forces already hidden in Asturia. It was all for Sora's benefit, the angels needed to meet near Freid, when all but one angel remained for awakening. Hiero would be ripe for the plucking about then, she foresaw a great battle that would do that for them, and Hiero would be theirs, no, his.

He had been waiting patiently for an assassin to show up, an expert at infiltrating almost any place in the world. The assassin wasn't late, but Folken had nothing more to do. Sora needed to pray, so his fun with her was on hold, not that it took much to get it from her. He smirked at that thought, but it faded when the door started to contort in the center, a blob of browns and grays slipping through the solid structures.

Folken's face became cold, devoid of feeling or interest, as if this sort of thing happened everyday. He waited a moment before standing, the sliming slick of brown and gray coming up before the throne, then rising up into a gray form, wearing a dark red hooded cloak, but he could see the dazzling and reptilian green eyes staring back from under the hood.

"Welcome, Zoran. I'm glad you decided to arrive early. I have a special assignment for you." Folken said plainly, not even blinking. The doppelganger before him didn't either, looking back equally as blank.

"Yes, Emperor Folken. The Chameleon Folk Clan is at your humble service. I am the best they have to offer. What is it you wish?"

"Impersonate a member of the Crusade crew, but not Allen Schezar or Millerna Schezar, they are needed later as bargaining chips against their son, and the others. It doesn't matter what crew member you take, make sure it's a much needed oaf, Pyle, Keo, or Teo. You will then give me hourly reports on where the Crusade is and if you see King Hiero Fanel, Dilandau Albatou, or Val Schezar, tell me, then only contact me when they are making plans to come after me, only then." Folken let out, watching the doppelganger's eyes gently. They blinked once, then the smelly creature bowed.

"Your wish is my command, Emperor Folken, but how will I know who is who? I suspect that will be provided, lest it makes this more difficult to accomplish." Zoran hissed, his normal raspy voice to anyone that had been near his kind.

"Indeed, Zoran. The soldier that will launch you to their ship will give you the shadowgraphs of these men and those boys, so you'll know who to take and who to leave be. Take the first man you see, and alone. No one must suspect he is dead, understood? Toss the body out of the ship discreetly."

"Understood perfectly. There will be no failure, as will the whelp Zongi. I will not….fail." Zoran let out, then started to sink into the floor, and was gone.

"He won't fail, Lord Folken." Sora said suddenly, startling Folken briefly. He looked at her slowly,, but she wasn't looking at him. She was staring into space, seeing everything and nothing as always.

"Thank you for sharing. What have you learned within your prayers?" he asked, not sounding interested.

She looked down, then up, one f her wistful smiles forming, then fading. "Feelings are running high within the group, friendship, love, hate, sadness, but Hiero holds them all, yet doesn't. It puzzles me." she said, not sounding like it bothered her much, but really nothing ever seemed to.

"You are a Mystic, not meant to be puzzled, but that could be the reason your race is limited to so few. You don't care, so why care about your worthless lives?" he scoffed, smirking a little with a dry chuckle," What puzzles you?
"Voices…..millions of voices in his head talking at once. Some speak with love, others with hate, their sorrow is his, but his outweighs them all. He's a lost child inside a man's body, eternally in pain, eternally alone, grasping at people as if he's drowning in loneliness, not willing to be alone. His mind is….nearly impossible to breech. I only get feelings from him, they are strong, but….he lacks…." She said, then trailed off, shivering.

Folken raised an eyebrow, one reddish brown eye almost looking concerned. Sora was afraid, and not just of anyone but his own nephew. He'd seen the boy, in both shadowgraphs and on his own the night Fanelia perished. He looked so much like Hitomi, the same short hair, but with jutting and spiky bangs that were unnatural in either parent. He wasn't sure if the boy had wings, but he supposed it might be true, perhaps that was the part that made his mind stronger than most, the Draconian blood teeming through his veins and making him stronger.

"No, it is not his blood, it is something else. Something he and Dilandau share, when their blood mingled….its like Hiero can protect himself and Dilandau from my power, with no idea he's doing it. It frightens me….he's not normal."

"Dilandau….that little upstart. My own son….I never thought he was destined for that, or myself. Fate is cruel to have such an ingrate be spawned from my loins, or Celena's, but she's far beyond complaining. He doesn't even know what he can do, not yet. He will, once he awakens and Hiero follows. Then he'll understand what he truly is." Folken sneered, digging his left-hand fingers into his throne. They bled a bit, but he showed no sign of pain. He just went on looking angry.

"Yes Lord Folken, but Hiero is a problem. He blocks his destiny and Dilandau's from me. It is disconcerting….he is changing the fate I made for them. We must hurry to Freid, and lay in wait until they drop their guard there. They will be easy prey. Hopefully, if it please my Lord." She said softly, no emotion coming through her words.

"It pleases me. But my mood has soured….I will retire to my room now," he replied, getting up from his throne in one fluid movement, his cloak wrapped tightly about him, even as he walked away. Sora made no move to follow, watching impassively as Folken left.

He stopped at the door, pressing it lightly open with one hand. "You would do well to be in my bed once you are done with your spells. Try and influence someone….Dalet, Ryuon, or Guimel….and if that won't work, try Duke Chid. Anything to weaken their bonds with each other. They'll be trying to get to Freid, so we must let them, but I won't make it easy for them. The only reason we are going to Asgard is to make them think we are after them, or Hiero think it. He can't penetrate your powers at such a distance, even if he tried. Angel of Power or no, he will be mine." Folken uttered softly, not bothering to see if Sora was nodding.

If he had stayed a moment longer, he would have seen her emotionless face be streaked by a pair of tears. "Pity….you didn't hear a word I said. Hiero….is a demon….in the body of an angel. He's a monster." She said, her voice shaking with her very breath.

~ Crusade ~

Pyle walked through the maze of tubes and pipes, graying hair. He had been having a nice dream, had had a good supper and dessert before bed at the local tavern. He was getting to like relaxing after he hell the war brought, though, he kind of wished for just a little action.

He groaned a little. "I should have been specific in that wish and said what time of day. Being knocked out of bed at midnight is not my idea of a lovely wake up call." He muttered, rubbing his eyes. He had taken a nap while Keo busied himself near the engine. He'd woken up when the Crusade had jerked about for a few minutes, but Gaddes announced over the horns that he'd nicked part of the canyon, but there was no real damage.

That had been a while ago, and he couldn't hear much but the engine anymore. Keo had been whistling right before Pyle had snuck off to go nap in the cargo bay, but now the whistling was gone, only buzzing and whirs and chugs from the engine, repetitive, but he was used to it.

Still, he did like to have people to talk to, even if it was Keo, that drab and boring knight. As good a fighter as Keo was, he could be a bit of a stick in the mud, sensitive and boring sometimes.

"Keo! Hey Keo, I found my tools," he lied, walking on slowly through the engine room," Keo, come on, they were really hard to find. Funny thing, they were behind Scherazade the entire time. KEO! Come now, don't be sore! Keo?"

He kept it up for a while, yelling, whispering into places he was know to nap in when he was alone in the engine room, and a few other nooks and crannies that could hold Keo to some degree. Nothing.

He went around the engine room a few times, a bad odor coming from where Keo left his tools. 'Nah, he's not the type to answer the call of nature on the spot. He probably got hungry or figured I ditched him for a while and decided to treat me to the same trick. Besides, it smells like the dead in here. Yuck.' Pyle thought, rubbing his reddened nose slightly, leaning over to pick up the toolbox.

The moment his hand curled about the handle of the box, a shadow fell over him, a big one. He was so startled he jumped back in surprise, tossing the toolbox in the air. As his eyes lifted to the shadow's owner a hail of tools clattered down between them, the box landing on Keo's head. He smirked slightly, sticking his tongue out on impact, then smiled and fell over, out cold.

~

"Pyle, wake up." Allen demanded, the rest of the crew all around them. Allen gave the unconscious man a light slap, then shook him. He'd found the guy lying by the engine, with a big lump on his head. He would have thought nothing of it at first, just a little mishap, but Gaddes had sent down Teo to the engine room earlier to check on the engine room repairs, which had been breaking down repeatedly ever since they lifted off.

They'd found the engine's life hanging by a thread a few minutes later. Allen had cursed himself for being so impatient. He'd wanted to retrieve Val and Myrna, more so Val to find out why he grew a horn and was looking up Myrna's dress like a damn pervert. He and Millerna had a long talk, he had to thank Gaddes for giving him that pep talk, and the talk with his wife had gone well. They had agreed to sit down with Val and find out why he had a horn. He loved Val, he was his son, but why he had a horn was a mystery. He still didn't like the idea it was there, but they'd find a way to cover it up.

He kept that little bit of information to himself. He didn't want people jamming their finger at his family over a horn. It was trivial, but even little things could make big problems from smaller minds. He felt bad for hurting Millerna and Val's feelings on the matter, but it had all been such a shock. He wished he'd reacted better, but it was the only way he knew how to react, like at Celena's funeral. He'd never been in perfect tune with his emotion of anger, it always went way too far, and by the time he realized it, it was too late to take it back. He stubbornly clung to it as he would his mother's dress, thinking it was right as long as he held on tight.

'Mother's dead….Celena and Father are dead too. We're all that remain of the Schezar family….C'mon Pyle, wake up. Keo did, why won't you?' Allen thought. He was only worried because Teo found Keo unconscious in the bathroom stall, a very good sized bruise on his face a lump on his head. That was enough to make Allen worry, and when Teo tripped over Pyle trying to find him, he felt worse.

Keo was all right, but Pyle was bleeding from the head. Millerna had managed to stop the bleeding, but Pyle was still out cold. Allen gave him a few shakes, looking to his wife digging through her medical bag for smelling salts.

She finally found some and came over, waving it under the man's reddened nose, Allen giving him a few light slaps. He waited moment before attempting a bit more force, but his hand stopped when Pyle's nose wrinkled, his eyes twitching a bit before they opened. He looked dazed and drunk, but pretty much that was normal for Pyle. He was a good man, but still, too carefree for his own good. He'd been the hardest for him and Gaddes to rouse nights ago.

"Hiya boss, what's up? I had the weirdest dream I got my ass kicked." The man uttered, chuckling a bit through the obvious pain in his voice. He rubbed at the lump on his head, grimacing when it became wet with blood he'd shed. He looked at his stained hand, then up at Allen.

Allen just smiled. "You'll be ok, Millerna can take you to your quarters to take fully care of yours and Keo's head wounds…." Allen replied, helping the man up with Gaddes' help, then looked at the concerned eyes of his men," The rest of you will perform a full scale search for the intruder of the ship. That is, save for Gaddes, Liesen, and myself, who will remain at the helm to search for signs of Val or Myrna. Understood, people?"

"Yes, sir!" everyone let out, everyone scattering away. Liesen stood by himself, watching them as he nervously adjusted his red bandana. "Your kid's ok boss, he's just like you, stubborn. I'm more worried about an intruder on board, you sure you don't want to maybe look to, you know? I may be 20 years older, but my eyes is still da best." He said pleasantly.

Allen knew it was forced, everyone was on edge, not prepared for the pains of the past to return. A samurai, knight, whatever they were called, was never too old to perform his duty. They would live and die by the sword, as any soldier would, no matter their age. He believed Liesen's statement, but he knew very well that the man was worried for Val, that they'd find him in not the best shape. Val was still young, he'd never really fought against Zaibach, and that country was downright murderous, doing everything and anything to get what they wanted. Allen knew Val was also without Scherazade, and had Myrna dragging him down, making him twice as vulnerable to a sneak attacks, by soldiers and guymelefs of thieves, murderers, and Zaibach bastards.

Allen needed Liesen's eyes, but more to find his son than an intruder. His was all that mattered right now, getting him back and getting some answers. "No Liesen, I need you to help us find Val and Myrna. The repairs we have to make are making us stop too much. We've barely gotten into this path and two days have been wasted, and at this rate, maybe more. Let the rest of the crew search for now, until we find those kids. Now get to the bridge, we'll meet you up there once we drop Pyle off in his room."

"Y…yes sir." Liesen said distastefully, letting out a gush of air from his mouth, then walking past them. Once he was gone, Allen and Gaddes lead Pyle along, Millerna trailing with her medical bag.

"Its bad enough Hiero and his guest still haven't been located, but Val and Myrna are gone too. I just know Zaibach is after them….why, who knows, but it has to be that boy's fault." Allen muttered, more to himself than anyone else. He ignored Millerna's startled gasp, but he couldn't ignore Gaddes clearing his throat.

"I wasn't talking about Val, you two. I meant that….Hiero. Ever since he was born, bad luck has befallen our families. Celena, Hitomi, Van, Daisuke, and now all of Fanelia. Whenever he is around someone gets hurt or worse, dies within the threads of fate. I know he's the cause….why else would Folken want him?" Allen stated, trying to be calm, but he was failing.

Gaddes shook his head, almost looking like he pitied Allen. "Oh all people, who lost both mother and father like that boy did, you should know things aren't always as they seem. Hiero may be a weird kid, but he's a good one too. He loved Celena like she was his own family, he was the one who wept at the funeral the most, he put us all to shame with his sorrow. That kid….has suffered too. You have to remember that, Commander. That and the fact that your son respects him. Creating another battle in their midst might rob you of Val….," he was saying, then tilted his head down, his eyes wistful," But I'm just an old man like you, sticking to what I believe in. Just give the boys the benefit of the doubt."

Allen nodded, unsure, but he nodded anyway. He had other things to worry about other than missing children. He had to worry about the possible intruder, and hoping he could be located before it might ruin their chances of ever finding Val alive, ever again.

To Be Continued….

*The Hanged Man card represents Allen and all the emotional releases he has, past and present, as well as Gaddes who is letting his feelings known in the matters that trouble Allen and Millerna so much. It also represents Allen's giving in to his emotional control whenever things seem to go against him.

Teaser: So who is the doppelganger, Keo, Teo, or Pyle? What happens when Hiero gives Gatti, Chesta and Migel flying lessons, over the ocean!? One episode to go before the challenge for….THE ANGEL OF DEATH, DILANDAU!