Disclaimer: I do not own any of the character of "Escaflowne", not even Dilandau. Wish I did, but I don't. I don't own anything from "The Slayers" either. I do own Alessa, Myrna, and Hiero, whatever his last name becomes, and I own everything associated with his first life on the Planet Terrian. Ask my permission if you want to use him. Also, I do not own the Goo Goo Doll's "Long Way Down," so don't due me. This is needed to represent Hiero's life and current turmoil with some energy.

Chapter 22

Wheel of Fortune*

Venus of the Mystic Moon

~ Dream Visions ~

Blind love, this eternal night,

I see beyond the darkness twined,

I feel your heart reaching me,

My beloved, my light….

Alessa listened for signs of life, the light that had taken her now fading into colors, a field soon splayed out before her, where the young woman Avaris sat. She was in the same dress as Alessa had seen her in on the plateau, her blind, glazed-green eyes looking at nothing straight ahead. Her long brown hair blew gently in the morning breeze as she stroked the hair of a young man, his head in her lap. Alessa got closer, putting her hand to her mouth when she saw his hair.

"Hiero…." She breathed. It was him, sort of. He had bangs all about his head, like a crown, ones that stopped about by his chin in length. He was looking up quite affectionately at Avaris, like a child to its mother, the curious gleam in his slit sapphire eyes. Hiero was dressed in a brown outfit, a bit tattered, but it was enough to be called decent clothing. He had a dark cloth wrapped over his mouth and nose, hiding his lips' expression from her view.

He had some blood on his body, but nothing too severe, mostly old blackened and brown stains from battle. Alessa was soon standing over them, watching the blind woman sing to the immortal beauty in her lap.

You are my angel of night,

My all, my only,

Nightmares are you,

But, I will help you fight….

She heard Hiero sigh as the song went on. Touching his gloved hands to the woman's bare ones, humming to the tune softly. He blushed a bit as Avaris squeezed his hand, giving the palm a gentle stroke.

You were the only one in my heart,

No never to be apart….

I am here for you, angel

In sapphire dreams,

I am yours,

I give love true.

The songs stopped, but Hiero remained in place. Avaris reached down and pulled his mouth mask away. His expression was nervous, but he didn't snatch the mask back. He simply watched her lifted it away from his beautiful face and then smell it. She kissed it a bit, eliciting a slight blush from Hiero's pale cheeks. "Hiero….you smell like metal." She said ever so softly.

Hiero squirmed a bit and sat up, only to get his face touched by her blind hands. Alessa watched as Hiero froze like a frightened child and closed his eyes, as if being touched scared him to death. Avaris chuckled when she felt this, and poked the tip of his nose. "Hiero Vendetta, are you afraid of me?"

"No….I am afraid of myself. I'm not allowed to….be with anyone by my choice….or theirs….only D…Delphine's. Please….stop. I don't want you to get hurt because of me. Please, I am cursed, those I care for all die." Hiero said, his voice shaking along with his form. Avaris wasn't dissuaded, felt his face, then kissed Hiero gently on his frozen lips.

"Weren't you already sent to kill me once, and refused? I am going to die anyway, but never because of you. It is because Moriun fears my voice. I enchant all with my voice like a siren. I can make the blind see their families if I want to, assassins are haunted by their victims, people think they are dying, and others, just become slaves to the song. You are the only one who did not fall prey to my voice," she said lightly, patting his hand," You didn't even hear me sing. You spared my life without my asking, took me on the run from my village as well….all that, and you won't even touch me as I wish to touch you. A man I can never see….and you would deny me giving you what could be my last words, my final wants." She said softly.

"You should rethink your wants. I don't want you to die, please. Can we just sing a little? I'm getting better at this singing thing." He said, his words stuttered out. Alessa would have giggled at his embarrassment if he didn't look so scared.

Avaris chuckled delicately, and lowered her head a bit with an amused smile. "Always trying to avoid the issue at hand. I know I am going to die, but I know it won't be by your hand. I have faith in that. I don't want to die not knowing if you loved me as well." She said.

Hiero looked away, his lips trembling. "What if I am? What good does it do you? It'll only get you slain by that bitch mother goddess and her bastard son. " he spat.

Alessa watched the debate, how calm Avaris was and how edgy Hiero was, something she hadn't seen too often in Gaia's Hiero. "Does that mean you feel something for me? Say aye or nay, Vendetta….it is a simple thing to ask."

Hiero was quiet for a while. He was staring at the endless expanse of emerald colored pine trees. He hummed a bit, thrumming his fingers upon the dirt ground. When he finally spoke, his eyes looked a little lost. "Avaris….I am well over 10,000 years old….those I love get killed, but if you….want to hear the truth, the real truth, well, let me say some things first. I have….enjoyed my time spent guarding you from your fate…learning to sing and stuff, and you've been nothing but kind to me despite knowing who and what I am. I thank you for that greatly," he let out lightly, gulping a little as he took feverish glances about them," And….I do….care for you. I love you, Avaris Demane….It is a dangerous thing to admit, but I do love you, but I won't love you. I won't risk your life for my wants and need. I won't do it for you either….The longer it is avoid, the more chances you have of living a long life…."

"A long life of an eternal hunt. I don't want a life that subjects me to being chased to the ends of Terrian simply because my voice is gifted. I only kill to defend myself….not murder and maim. Moriun and her son have passed judgement on me….so I pass judgment on them for denying me happiness with you. I damn them to hell, and all their followers. I damn them with the sound of my voice….for denying me all my wishes….but one." She said sharply, standing up. To Alessa's surprise, Avaris was smiling.

"What is that?" he asked quietly. Then a thocking noise erupted and Avaris' body jerk forward slightly, her smile never wavering for an instant. "To be one with the man I love, to see him forever." She breathed harshly, then several more of the noises came, and Avaris fell into Hiero, her lips slamming onto his cheek. Hiero screeched, a pale light emanating from where their skin had met.

Alessa watched with shaking eyes as the woman was absorbed into Hiero, the woman who was blind, and now had several arrows sticking out of her back. Hiero looked so scared, but managed to utter one phrase. "So much….for faith. I killed you after all." He breathed sadly.

Once it was done, an arrow slammed through Hiero's left eye, and he fell over, dead. The scene went black, but the body remained.

Alessa stood still a moment, wondering if she should help Hiero, but in a memory, what good would it really do? She steeled herself and walked to the body, the arrow fading away, Hiero's eyes shut perfectly and gently on his face. There was no blood, not a trace of a wound. Alessa took a deep breath before leaning over to check on him, in some hollow hope that by touching him she would wake up, or something would make sense.

She never expected a hand to grab hers, Hiero's hand, a pair of glistening sapphire eyes looking up at her curiously. "Hiero….?" She asked. He cocked his head to the side, puzzled.

"Yes and no." he returned. "Oook…where are we then?" she asked. Hiero let go of her hand, then stood, still eyeing her curiously, something unknown in his eyes. "Do I know you?" he quarried.

Alessa felt sick for moment, then it passed. These were Hiero's memories, so how could a memory know her, a memory she was never a part of. This was Terrian's Hiero, the young man who lost his innocence to arrogance and a cold mother, the boy who could never obtain love.

"My name is Alessa. I know you on Gaia." She told him. The Terrian Hiero nodded slightly and bowed his head politely. "Sorry, I didn't know what you looked like. I am the keeper of the memories of Terrian. I don't know what happens beyond it. It is my role in the mind."

"Then there are others…." She surmised, and got another nod. "Yes, we are few though. There is the coward, he holds onto the memories of before the merge with Delphine….the times of pain and paradise. The other I know of is the monster, the one who doesn't care, he retains all of our hatred….he knows far more than I. He is allowed to walk among the new memories, while the coward and I remain here." He explained.

"So what do I call you?" she asked.
"Terrian will do….it is what I maintain….I was told by the Hiero, before the monster and him fell inside the darkness of this place….that I was to await a woman named Alessa, to show her a few things so she could awaken of her own accord. I guess we should begin now. Hiero is in much pain. I have to go to him soon to try and repair the damage he inflicted upon himself once I am done with you. Shamefully, the monster must awaken too….he is closest to Hiero. He is the drive to live for others."

Oh, here you are, there's nothing left to say….
You're not supposed to be that way….
Did they push you out?
Did they throw your way?

"If he is such a monster, why would he live for others?" Alessa said in puzzlement. Terrian shrugged. "The monster is a reminder of what once was, what hurt all of us so much. He helps all of us, except the coward, to remember not to take things for granted, not to get too big-headed, lest lead this soul further down the path to ruin. Hiero is truly an innocent soul tainted by hate, the hate of his mother, his people, and driven mad by the love of the god within him."

"Love….?" Alessa gasped, and only got a nod in reply. "I have wasted too much time. Come now….we have memories to visit." Terrian replied tersely, grabbing her by the hand gently, then pulled her through the shadows of Hiero's mind.

~

The darkness went away as it always did, and she saw the child Hiero of Terrian laying in wait with a dark sword. He was hiding in a temple, one that had been thoroughly trashed. The boy looked agitated, but determined.

"This is a memory you must see, the one memory the coward won't hold onto….the day our soul became tainted." Terrian said quietly as the room filled with a bright light.

The boy looked away, but as the light faded, he looked back, looking at the same blonde young man Alessa and Terrian were. The young man's eyes were hidden from view by his fluffy bangs, almost resembling Chesta, and his body was decked in sparkling white robes. He was also floating a ways off the ground, by an inch maybe. His face was a bit distressed at the messed up temple, his head swiveling back and forth a bit to see what caused it, then stopped his sights upon the child Hiero. He settled himself on the ground and walked towards the boy, who still stood perfectly still.

"That's….Delphine, I guess." Alessa said stupidly. She couldn't think of anything brilliant to say, this was all too strange already.

"Yes, the God of Harvest and Life. The son of Moriun, Terrian's creator. Her only son and child. I was too hurt and childish to realize what I was doing. I just wanted the pain to stop, so people wouldn't pick on me and beat me up anymore," Terrian replied, and pointed at Delphine," I should have run the moment I saw him, but…."

Delphine was smirking down at child Hiero, not even looking as if the child might be a threat. "Why did you do this, Hiero Vendetta? I didn't make you look like that….though I must say you're rather cute." Delphine said, his voice sounding as if it was everywhere. The voice was sort of like Sora's only male and condescending.

The boy lowered his dark sword a bit, but kept his eyes on Delphine.

"I've come to fight you. It's the only way to gain the respect of this stupid city." Hiero the boy said with serious vigor.

Delphine chuckled a bit and lifted his arms up gently. They began to glow and soon let out a divine light. "I don't have time for whining little boys. I'm sorry if everyone detests you, but you blame your wicked mother for that. She's the reason you're so different. I have to repair the damage you've done or….ack!" Delphine began, but Hiero cut him off by impaling the young god through the chest, the dark sword crackling a bit with greenish energy. The boy didn't smile, only focused on striking down Delphine. Alessa nearly looked away, but found she couldn't.

"I said I wanted to fight. It's nothing personal, but if I defeat you, no one will hurt my mother or me again. How dare you call my mother wicked!? Your Mother did this to me, she made me this….freak that everyone calls me. Well, I won't be a freak anymore, no way. They'll all fear me so bad. No one will dare utter those hurtful words again. HAH!" Hiero cried, yanking his sword out fast to spin around and catch a shocked Delphine in the back, golden blood gushing across Hiero's face.

Delphine cried out then, falling onto to his undamaged side covered in his golden blood, holding his injured chest gently, with heaving breaths erupting from his mouth. "Stop this now! My mother will rage if you kill me….stop this, Hiero! You don't need to do this." Delphine said hoarsely, but Hiero shook his head, taking the sword up again, then lowered it. He didn't strike, his eyes misting with something new, guilt. Hiero wasn't enjoying himself as Alessa had thought. The boy looked sad now, unable to harm the bleeding god any further.

"I'll end it now, Delphine, you're suffering. I thought this would be quicker," Hiero said, touching Delphine's hand to squeeze it," The pain's going to stop now."

The noble gesture that made Alessa sigh made Delphine and then Hiero start screaming.

"OWWW!! What's going on, it hurts?! It hurts!!! BURNS!! STOP IT!" Hiero cried out, trying to get his hand free of Delphine's as hard as Delphine was trying to free his own hand, but to no avail. It was like their hands were melding together. Alessa put her hands to her mouth, running over to the pair in hopes of helping them, but she passed right through them, and the screaming continuing.

Hiero started pulling hard on his hand, trying to shove Delphine away with his other hand, but that hand started to meld with the god's face the moment their skin met. "Ah no!! What's going on?! Arghhhhh!!" Hiero wailed, light of every color filling the temple.

"You….your creation, all of those elements of magic….they….I don't believe it, you're absorbing me! No! Magic absorbers were all destroyed 5,000 years ago….arghh, Ravi, you fool cleric! You recreated the cursed race! I can't stop this, Hiero….you won't be able to let go! You can't until….we merge!" Delphine gasped, already up to his shoulder on Hiero's one hand, his mouth half there on the other.

"MERGE?! What are you talking….ab….AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" Hiero screamed, his little eyes scrunching up tight as the screams just kept flying out of his throat as Delphine got sucked further into Hiero full spread palms.

Alessa watched in horror as the god fully vanished into the child's screaming and writhing body, golden light pouring out of every orifice the boy had to offer. Then the explosion came, rushing past her sharply. All she felt was a harsh breeze, but she watched painfully as Hiero's homeland was ripped apart by the light, until every scream that joined him stopped, the rumbling had passed.

Now she stood in a wasteland, nothing but the ground surviving the blast, no buildings, no people, nothing. Only the ground….and Hiero.

Touch me now and I don't care!
 When you take me, I'm not there!

Almost human, but I'll never be the same….

The vision faded away, even the child, until only Terrian and Alessa remained in the darkness. "So….now you know….why he would want to show anyone is beyond me. Such a foolish creature, so foolish we were. Delphine was right….life might have gotten better, much better than what came after this living hell, if we had just been tougher about things. Alas, we were only six, new to such pains. It is truly a crime against nature for those so young to suffer what we did, to be responsible for the death if thousands, mothers, fathers, babies, innocents and evils, all of them were as one that night, because of us." Terrian said in monotone.

"You were just a child though, how could you have honestly known what you were, and what would have happened. You were just….scared and lonely." She told him, trying to coax him.

"What would you know of those things?" Terrian sniffed, looking about himself, as if he'd lost something.

She shoved at his back and huffed. "I'd know cause I lost family too. Maybe I didn't blow good old New York to smithereens, but I know…it wasn't my fault my parents were killed. I wasn't driving the other car….I didn't tell them to go to that toy store or even to buy me that toy that night, but I know they loved me. They were just thinking of me, like they always did. They died loving me, their daughter, to the end, and each other. I grieved so much, blamed myself for so long until….I met you, and saw through your words….and these memories, it wasn't my fault. It just happened, just like what happened to you. It just happened, you had no idea what would occur. You didn't want that to happen, now did you?" she told him.

Terrian looked back at her strangely, and then shook his head violently. "NO….we never would have wanted that….we just….wanted…." he started, then his voice cracked and his head lowered.

Long way down….I don't think I'll make it on my own!
Long way down….I don't want to live in here alone!

Long way down….I don't think I'll make it on my own….

She put her hands on both of his shoulder, tilting her head down a bit to look his sunken head in the eye. His sparkling sapphire eyes were full of tears. "You wanted your mother to love you, for the other children to stop picking on you. You wanted the pain to stop so you could be happy. There's nothing wrong with wanting that, you just went about it the wrong way. It was an innocent mistake. You felt terrible about it all, I can see that you still do. It's always in your voice when you talk about your past. You seem to hate yourself….but you shouldn't. You should think of the happy memories. Don't you have any?" she asked lightly, suppressing a giggle as the young man blushed.

"Yes….I have some, but I can only show you one more memory. I have shown you enough already….Hiero only wanted me to show you those moments earlier, but….there was a happy memory we treasure….one we'll always treasure." He replied, the surroundings changing as he spoke.

"Oh Hiero! Hey Hiero! Where are you?" said a little boy, his short raven hair shimmering a million colors in the sunlight. He looked to be no more than ten years old, slender and energetic with a bright smile on his face and his hazel eyes twinkling like stars. A girl that looked almost like him, except her dark hair was shoulder length. She looked frightened, clutching onto the boy's arm. They were both dressed in fine clothing, a blue and white summer dress for the girl and greens and dark blues for the boy's tunic and shirt, and black pants and boots. He had a little dagger in his hand, looking ready to fight.

"Collie, where's Master Hiero and the cottage? We're lost, you got us lost. I'm scared….we shouldn't have headed for the lagoon so early. He won't know where we are….We can't even find the lagoon!" The little girl sniffled.

'Collie' rolled his eyes at her, keeping his boyish grin, and then walked on with his dagger before him. "Stop that, Master Hiero calls me Collie all the time. I don't need you doing it. Call me Colwin, sister. It happens to be my name. You don't hear me calling you Veddie, Veda." Colwin replied, swiping his dagger at some branches in his way.

"V-Veda? That was the name Hiero mentioned in Celena's memorial atrium. He said….he was in love with Veda. That's her as a little girl…." Alessa gasped, then looked towards Terrian.

Terrian had a few joyous tears streaming down his cheeks, a loving smile on his pale lips. "Veda….we love these memories, even if they are long gone. They calm us, Veda was as pure as snow, a rare bit of addictive nightshade Hiero would have walked through lava just to touch….but it was not meant to be. Ah, but this is a good memory. We loved these children so much, these twins of the late paladin of the house of Umberson. He became a vampire when the twins' mother died….and tried to kill the children too, but we stopped him. We raised these children at Delphine's request, but it became much more than that. Regardless of how it all ended, we would not trade these years for anything. It was the happiest Hiero had ever been." Terrian breathed, stepping up by the children to run his hand over Veda's head, or rather traced the space about her head.

Alessa smiled at his sincere words, then looked at the children. There was someone new there now, a tall man all dressed in wild colors. He looked like a mad priest, decked in colorful robes and a pair of broken glasses. He was tall and wiry looking too, and nonetheless disturbed Alessa, even if it was only a memory.

"Hiya kiddies….can you spare a wanderer a few moments of your time? I might have something that would interest you little sweet ones. I offer choice items." The man's shaky and raspy voice let out.

Veda seemed curious, but Colwin held out his dagger, his eyes wary. "What is it, Mister? Maps? We're lost, Colwin got us lost from our guardian and now we can't find our home." Veda said, her voice all too trusting. The skinny man smiled sleazily.

"No, sorry, little lady, but I can offer you better than that. I can offer you the power of ages that would do any guardian proud. You just come with me….and I'll show you wonders that you can only dream of….just follow me." the man said, reaching out a surprisingly slim hand. It looked like the healthiest part of him, better than his grizzled face, the beard and heavy mustache hiding some of his features.

Colwin shook his head, looking away, but not towards his sister. She was stepping up to the man, reaching out for his hand. VEDA! STOP!" Alessa and Colwin cried out, too little too late, as the man scooped the child up swiftly, pressing her to his chest and a bigger dagger to her throat.

"Suckers….well, little boy, if you value your sister's pathetic life, you'd best drop that little toothpick of yours and come along quietly. Selling you off through the slave traders will make me rich man. Healthy young brats like you are worth a pretty penny to the right buyers, for whatever they require….come on, boy, drop it, or I'll have to dirty this little wonder's dress with her blood." The man snickered, sounding like a snake.

"I….oh Veda…." Colwin said, his eyes dropping a bit, then his dagger hit the ground. "I'm sorry, Veda….that I wasn't strong enough. Veda…." Colwin was saying, then Alessa saw the man jerk a bit, the dropped Veda and the dagger. Veda grabbed it up and stabbed the man in the kneecap. The man howled and fell on his side, revealing what had hurt him before.

"Master Hiero!! You found us!" Veda screeched happily, her dress getting a little bloodstained from the man's wound. Hiero came out from where he'd been standing, a cross look on his face, but it wasn't aimed at the man, but the kids.

"I thought I told you two to wait until I woke up to go to the lagoon for a swimming lesson today." He said, sounding fatherly.

Colwin and Veda looked at their feet while the strange man groaned. Alessa looked to see why, and saw Hiero was standing on the man's bloody knee, pushing on it repeatedly.

She had to giggle then. "Hiero never changes…." She chuckled, and Terrian looked at her oddly. He shrugged when he saw her smiling, and went back to the true focus, the memory.

"Yes, Master Hiero." The twins said together, shuffling their feet.

"And I also said never talk or associate with strangers….even when they offer you nice things….and especially power. I won't have you ruining yourselves I like I did with myself. Power is fleeting, you two. Your hearts are what matter most in your training, not easy ways out." He scolded.

"So love is more powerful, Master Hiero?" Veda asked timidly. Hiero seemed to be caught off guard with the question, and kicked the man instead of pushing on the wound, making him howl louder.

"Love? Why do you say that, Veda?" he asked. The little girl giggled and hugged his leg, kissing the kneecap. Hiero looked startled, his jaw dropping as his cheeks blushed.

"We love you, Master Hiero, so we can trust in you with our hearts. That's right, isn't it?" Veda said innocently.

"Um….uh….yeah, that's right Veda, trust in your hearts, and you can never go wrong. Love….conquers all." He said sheepishly, patting the child's head affectionately, then looked at the groaning man.

"Go to your brother, Veda, and both of you turn your backs to me and hold your ears shut. This is not for your eyes….understood?" he added, getting identical nods from the children. As they obeyed him, Hiero rammed the hilt of his blade through the man's skulls, a burst of cracked bone and blood-drenched brains spurting out in a gory bit of mush.

"That will teach you to touch my little ones. No one takes the ones I love away from me….not dirty old men like you, not the goddess, or the devil himself. I won't even let myself hurt them….they don't deserve pain. I hope they are never touched by it." Hiero said to the corpse then kicked it into some bushed before shaking the brain shreds off his sword. He sheathed it, wiped his hands off on his clothes, and knelt behind the kids.

He hugged them from the back, eliciting giggles from them. "Ah….Master Hiero!" they chirped. He danced backwards away from them, smiling. He looked incredibly boyish, running his hand through his hair. He looked like a big brother would, like they did on TV, always that look of boyish charm.

Colwin launched himself at Hiero and Hiero caught the boy by leaning down, and then picked him up and spun around. Colwin laughed happily, the childish giggles making Alessa heart bubble with joy. The Hiero positioned Colwin on his shoulder, supporting him with one hand and looking up at him with a full smile.

Then Veda caught Hiero's free hand and gave it a yank, her musical laughter like silver bell blown on a winter wind, crisp and pure, innocent.

"Ah, Master Hiero! We love you….can we go to the lagoon now?" Veda chirped. Hiero laughed, that laugh Alessa had crown to welcome, the warm one he spilled in Fanelia when he'd seen her dancing. It was loving, Alessa cursed herself. She had wished she'd seen it then more strongly instead of stubbornly trying to ignore it, to protect herself. Hiero truly loved her.

"Hiero. I'm sorry." She said quietly, placing her hands to her heart and the children's laughter when on.

"Ok, you little scamps. Let's go cool off in the lagoon, you've had enough excitement for one day. Let's take this entire day off, my treat. No training today, let's kiss the sun today!" Hiero chuckled, and let Veda drag him off.

The vision faded to white this time. Terrian was looking very wistful, almost serene. The entire time Alessa had been near this incarnation, he'd never smiled directly at her, but now he was, her Hiero's smile, the one he openly displayed for her, to show her he cared.

"I see you understand….I am glad….but you must speak to two others before you ultimately decide on our fate. Only you can tame the monster and awaken the angel within, that is what Hiero said. Speak with the ones called Gatti and Val together. They will tell you what they know of love….so you can decide with your own heart what it means to you, Angel of Love….Alessa." he said gently.

Alessa nodded, feeling a bit dizzy, but she made herself move towards Terrian. He looked puzzled by her action, but didn't move. When she reached him, she embraced him tightly, pressing her cheek to his. She felt his body grow warm, stiffening a moment, then he relaxed and embraced her in return. "Thank you….fair lady. I am glad….we have found happiness….at last." He said, his voice and body fading from Alessa's senses, until her arms came in on themselves, leaving the light to engulf her.

~ End Dreams ~

"HIERO! COME BACK! OH!" Alessa yelped, shooting out of bed to mash into someone's chest. She froze a moment, not daring to breath thinking a slight change in movement would alert whoever she'd crashed into that she was still there.

"Lady Alessa! Are you all right? Did you have a nightmare?" a male voice asked. She knew that tone, so brotherly and strong, yet a little worried. "G-Gatti? What….?' She said, and back up considerably until she met with something solid, the headboard of a bed.

Gatti was sitting in the side of the bed she was in, fully dressed in his Dragon Slayer armor, his stormy blue eyes still worried. He was cleaned up, unlike the last time she saw him, when Midgar fell. He had been blood soaked and covered with ash and dirt. She looked down at herself and found she was in her normal clothing, and it was clean. She blushed a bit, not remembering cleaning them herself. She looked at Gatti, and he must have seen the remnants of her blushing.

"Myrna got you out of your clothes….Sir Val made her do it. Chid and Chesta went out to get them cleaned when we arrived here. We're in Egzardia now." He told her, blushing a little himself.

"Oh….where is….I….How is Hiero doing?" she asked, a little afraid. Gatti lowered his eyes, and cleared his throat. "He….was hurt somehow. He won't wake up….we tried to wake him up, but nothing worked. None of the healers could help us either, even after Lord Dilandau threatened them. Hiero is in this inn too, a few doors down from this room," he told her, still not meeting her eyes," Lord Dilandau hasn't left his beside yet. He must be so tired."

"Dilandau….is watching over Hiero? Oh my….he….must be very close to Hiero, closer than I thought possible for him anyway." She breathed.

"That's friendship for you….Lord Dilandau may not understand it very well, but he's trying. He said he would guard Hiero forever until he woke up. He didn't care how much we pled with him. He finally kicked and locked us all out, even Val." Gatti replied softly.

"Good friends….that's a start at least, but….waking Hiero up would make Dilandau get some sleep. I need to speak with you and Val, right now. Can you go get him? It's important. Hiero gave me visions from his mind when he touched my hand….he said I had to speak with you two together to awaken as the Angel of Love. Please, can you go get him?" she asked, reaching out swiftly to clutch his gloved hand.

Gatti nodded, patted her hand and then left the room swiftly "I'm coming Hiero, I will make it up to you. I'm coming…." She said to herself, spotting her back in the corner of the room, the shimmering of the crystal heart sticking out of one of the side pouches. She smiled at the pretty gift and got out of her bed to get it.

~ Hiero's Sick Room ~

Dilandau watched Hiero laid out on the bed, the sapphire haired king sweating profusely on his propped up pillows. The sheets and quilts were pulled up to the top of his neck to keep him warm, but it only seemed to make the feverish heat of Hiero's body grow worse.

Dilandau was kneeling at his friend's bedside, giving Hiero a saddened sidelong glance. He wouldn't cry, not him, that was weak. Women cried, babies cried, he was neither.

Never put you down, I never pushed you away….
You're not supposed to be that way!!
And anything you want, there's nothing I could say!!

'But Hiero wept for that Veda woman, he wept for Guimel….is he weak?' he wondered. No, Hiero wasn't weak, the young king had merely suffered far worse tortures in life than Dilandau had. Dilandau just grabbed the cloth he'd taken from the tavern below and wiped Hiero's sweaty brow, unsure of why he was even bothering. Hiero was a fighter, he didn't need a nursemaid, let alone did Dilandau need to take care of anyone but himself.

"But you prevented my end without asking. I didn't ask for your help….but you gave it freely. You puzzle me deeply, Hiero….and Guimel's death….I wish you could explain why it pains you so much. He died as a Dragon Slayer, died fighting, it was what he was bred to do, to fight, and to die, same as I was….but I won't die. I will live through many great wars. Won't I?" Dilandau asked softly, dropping the sweat soaked cloth on the nightstand beside the bed. He kept his trembling garnet eyes upon Hiero's still face, the pale complexion sickening to him. It was almost white and blue, like a corpse was prone to having.

Hiero was alive, he was still breathing after all, but he looked so fragile now, like a porcelain doll. Hiero had been like this the entire walk to Egzardia and the entire day they'd been there. He couldn't leave Hiero's bedside, but didn't know why. They were friends, that much was true, but Dilandau knew little of friendship, save for poor Jajuka. That beast-man had watched over his mother for a long time, making sure she was safe, then lost her to the sorcerers in a moment, lost her to Dilandau, her own destined son.

Jajuka had been there for him in the end when his Slayers were gone. He took all of his fits, his rage, and insults. He took them as if they meant nothing, only Dilandau being happy mattering, but it was more the fact that Celena mattered, and Dilandau was keeping her at bay. He was not happy he'd let his mother take over the body. He so loved being alive, fighting and doing as he pleased, but that didn't matter. His mother had regained control for good then, but spoke to him in her dreams. He had been reduced to nothing more than a child in her mind, an imaginary son for her to visit whenever she had time.

He had hated her for doing it, believing it was for nothing more than to abolish the guilt he made her feel, the guilt of stifling him into her soul. He found out after a year that it wasn't true, that she actually loved him, for she wept in her dreams when she held him and wished she could have led a normal life and birthed him. She had said she would have been proud to have a son like him, for Dilandau to be alive and not trapped. She did feel guilty, but for not trying to save his life so he could go on.

There was no pity, no hate, the dreams were a way to see him always, since she could never truly hold her ill-fated son in her arms. Dilandau had felt funny when she said that, his heart hurt and his stomach felt heavy. Despite the fact he was only a soul, he could still feel, the conflicts of loss, the pain of defeat, and the fear of dying.

Is there anything to feel?
Is it pain that makes you real?

Cut me off before it kills me!!

'You can only be alive if you think it. They weren't feelings….I knew I was alive!' he thought, then felt curiosity engulf his mind. "I wonder if your power works when you're unconscious. If I could understand why you feel pain….understand what happened," Dilandau said aloud and stood up, plucking at the fingers of his right glove," I might as well give it a shot. I've never backed down from anything in my life."

With a flick of his wrists, he took his glove off, his pale hand flexing a bit. He reached under the covers with his gloved hand and pulled out Hiero left arm, setting it down palm up. He looked at it a moment, then with assurance, grabbed it tightly with his bare hand.

~ Vision ~

Dilandau was falling through the floors of Midgar, as if he were a ghost. He felt nothing, only saw each deck. One was full of burned men, which made him smile. It served them right for being such poor soldiers, it was their own fault they were too stupid and slow to avoid such a calamity.

Soon the decks became dark and steam ridden, soundless. Dilandau didn't feel different here, he was more alive in the dark of night anyway, battles always went so much better under the cover of the moon. But there was no moon here, only darkness and empty space.

"So what does this have to do with anything?" Dilandau sniffed as he finally stopped in a dim hallway, some of the gas lamps puffing out as he spoke.

"Lord Hiero!?" Dilandau turned to see Guimel running right at him. Dilandau didn't move, it was only a vision, nothing to get hysterical about. Sure enough, Guimel ran right through him, then the scene flashed away. Dilandau's eyes widened as he found himself looking at Guimel's back, and Folken was several feet away, with his back to the Slayer.

Folken was turning around, his hand still on his bloodied blade, but he was smiling. Guimel was bleeding too, but his face was seriously angered. He was about charge forth when Dilandau saw a dagger fly out of his own chest and into Guimel's back, blood splashing all down the shocked Slayer's form.

"The perfect fool, you always played the fool, Guimel." Folken said, and Guimel groaned out in pain, his hands reaching back frantically for the source of it. It was rather pointless, his fingers only inches away but never touching.

Guimel's eyes watered as Folken vanished into the door he'd been standing in front of as Guimel was dragged away by his feet, a river of blood following his whimpering form.

"Lord Dilandau….Lord Hiero….forgive me." he whimpered, and soon his body was gone. The scene flashed off again, back to the hallway where Dilandau was sure Guimel had been running through. His anger was getting ready to erupt and drown all the visions with his hate. Guimel had been back-stabbed by two cowards, by Folken and whoever threw that dagger.

"I'll kill them for insulting the name of the Dragon Slayers. I'll kill them all…painfully." He seethed, then heard rapid footsteps. He angled his head backwards a bit to see who it was, and almost smiled. It was Hiero, blood soaked and panting Hiero.

He ran through Dilandau a few seconds later, and finally Dilandau managed a smirk as he ran after him. Hiero had his sword, but it was sheathed and Celena's dagger was missing. Hiero must have been in hurry, as near as Dilandau could figure, to forget such an important memento and weapon. Dilandau wasn't too upset in seeing Hiero had forgotten it, after all, on their journey to Egzardia, they had found numerous weapons and supplies scattered about the landscape.

One such weapon has been Guimel's blade, his name etched into the bottom of the hilt. The blood that was on it had been caramelized, his and Folken's probably, the last blood Guimel's blade ever tasted. They had also found Celena's dagger and a piece of Dragon Slayer armor that must have been torn off of Guimel at some point, or perhaps just armor they left behind. He had stuffed the armor inside the jinx's bag for safekeeping. Viole had the sword on his person, so eventually they could bury the stuff in Guimel's memory.

He had placed that dagger and Hiero's sword on the only article of clothing they'd found on Hiero's body, his boxers, which were shredded something terrible. It was enough to support and hide Hiero's nether region, but enough to show he had been through hell. Val had humbly requested that they all get cleaned up and get Hiero some new clothing. Dilandau had to agree, for who would take them seriously if Hiero went to battle in his underwear? Not that Hiero was always serious, but still, some people had a thing about dignity. 'I don't. Let people laugh….it won't last long. It never does, thankfully, bunch of jaw-slacking idiots.' He thought cruelly, and stopped as he saw Hiero had.

Hiero went down the only other way he could, as the other passages were blocked off by debris. Dilandau followed at an even pace, wondering what the big hurry was.

One is one,

The Soul is thee.

Let emotions run,

Let the heart be free….

Hiero stopped again and Dilandau almost ran through him. He had heard the phrase too, one he'd heard often in his mind. It was Sora's voice, the song she used to control people's emotions, to break down the barriers. As the airy voice stopped, Hiero grabbed at his blade but didn't pull it out. Hiero seemed to be listening for something, a sign of movement Dilandau bet. It was what he'd do.

After a while, when nothing came, Hiero started to pull his hand away, his double-colored eyes still scanning the dark expanse. The exact second his hand met his side, something flew out of the pitch-blackness and knocked Hiero over.

"Guimel!" Dilandau breathed, then Guimel's face started to meld into Hiero's chest. Hiero looked down with an expression of unholy fear in his eyes, seeing Guimel was stuck to his chest. A tear fell from his left eye, and soaked into Guimel's pale hair, already half of the boy's face absorbed and gone

"G-Guimel….argh, no, Not you! NOOOOOOO!!!!" Hiero wailed, but seemed frozen in place, pain filly his face. Dilandau looked towards the place of attack the same time Hiero managed too, and his lips twisted with fury when he saw Sora step out of the shadows, as impassive as ever.

One is one,

The Soul is thee,

Let emotions run,

Let the heart be free….

'Bitch….you're dead.' Dilandau thought, snarling at her even though she couldn't hear him.

"SORA! You bitch! Argh, make it stop! It hurts, not Guimel, not him! Not anyone! I don't want to, stop it!!" Hiero screamed, Guimel's right shoulder melding in with Hiero's chest. A clatter erupted when Guimel's sword fell from his twitching hands, too weak to hold onto it any longer. Hiero grabbed at it as if it were a great feat, the hardest thing to do in life, then didn't move again. He was literally paralyzed.

"Make it STOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!" Hiero screamed, his eyes still on Guimel, as the boy was almost gone.

"You truly are a monster. I must save Lord Folken from your anger as well. We will meet again, hopefully. Then a rightful ruler can take charge of this world, without you in it." She uttered with no emotion, then vanished into the shadows and a puff of white replaced her.

Dilandau rammed his fist against the wall as she did, Guimel's body gone forever to be within Hiero's. The vision faded, leaving Dilandau all alone in a white light. He stood there for the longest time.

"MAMA!!" Dilandau lifted his head up when he heard the words, the pained words of a young male child.

He turned around to see a new vision had begun. Hiero was running with his mother in the garden, being dragged along really, to the small pond within it. Dilandau watched as the child Hiero pleaded with his mother, but his words were lost as she threw him into the pond. "Hiero, I won't let them hurt you. You're my son, I won't let you be hurt!" Queen Hitomi rang out, seconds before Dilandau heard the familiar loading of a crossbow.

"NO! No, Mama! It's not me they want to kill. Please, save yourself. MAMA!" Hiero cried, not a hint of sarcasm in his voice," Don't leave me alone!"

"Oh…."Dilandau thought, remembering those words, the only time he had uttered them as he was. He had said those words after Jajuka had been struck down by Van, before he turned back into Celena, his mother.

Then came the arrows, violating Hiero's mother all along her back, then through her head, but she was smiling, reaching out to her child, a child she would never know was older than time, with the power of forever at his fingertips.

"MAMA! NO!" Hiero screamed, swimming for shore, not even looking as though the approaching assassin was a threat.

Hiero never reached the shore as the samurai of Fanelia finally came and killed the man. They helped the boy out of the water a few minutes later, but then the boy bit one of them and smacked the other, getting dropped by his mother's dead form. He hugged her, sobbing.

"No, Mama, don't leave me! Mama, please….why didn't you listen to me? Mama! Don't leave us behind!" Hiero whimpered, getting his nice clothes soaked with blood.

The vision faded to Van on a cot, aged and terribly pale now, all alone. Dilandau had heard that the king of Fanelia had died of illness, but he knew better. He had heard Folken hire a filthy doppelganger to 'speed up Van's funeral.' As much as those words in the same sentence pleased him, it wasn't as wonderful to see. He would have rather van died at his hand, in battle, but dying of and illness and later to be poisoned seemed cowardly to him, a death that was a true waste.

He heard a door open and a woman came in, dressed in healer's attire. She was holding a thing vial of green liquid. She was smiling, but not one a good person would wear. It was smug and cruel, a smile like his.

Van just lay defenseless on the cot, mumbling incoherently in his sleep. He was sweating terribly, much like Hiero had been earlier. "Hiero….poor Hiero. An immortal can suffer as any mortal can. He's not too different from the rest of us in that respect.' He thought, flicking his finger through Van's hair, the vision's transparency preventing any movement on its part.

"Fool for love, they say you let yourself waste away into sickness over the dead queen. Lovely queen of the Mystic Moon and gentle king of the Dragon Country, they said…..You're pathetic. I didn't give up and moan my life away when my mother died! I lived for her, for the Slayers that couldn't come back! You….you're nothing but a coward Van, you always were." Dilandau hissed out and slapped Van, not concerned with the transparency thing anymore.

He moved away when he saw the healer's hand go through his chest. He didn't like that, it gave him the creeps. It reminded him of his birth, and watching those of his Slayers, the lot of them bursting through the pregnant fronts of their defenseless and raped mothers. It made him ill.

Dilandau watched with slight interest as the woman poured the liquid into Van's mouth. Van sputtered after a while, the healer snickering while she threw the vial out the open window.

Crash!

Dilandau and the healer spun around swiftly at the sound, and saw a murderous looking teenage Hiero standing there, his blade drawn and soaked with fresh blood.

"Murderer! I'll kill you, doppelganger!" Hiero shouted and rushed at the startled woman, but she pulled out a dagger. "For Lord Folken, I killed your father and will take you into custody. I will be rewarded handsomely for this….two dragons with one stone. There is no cure for that poison either, so don't even think you can undo the damage." She said in a raspy voice.

Hiero struck at her once, but never finished the move. He drew her out to block. As she stuck her blade out, Hiero smashed his boot in her face, breaking his jaw. She staggered backwards, her rear hitting the window's edge. Her form rippled, the true monster she was being revealed. Hiero wasted no time in beheading the stunned creature, body and head sailing out the window in a rainbow of blood.

Hiero dropped his blade a few moments later and rushed to his father's now thrashing side. "Father! Dammit, I was too late! Father! Don't lave me all alone, please! FATHER…..gods be damned, no…." Hiero begged, shaking his father's arm.

Then black wings burst from Van's back, knocking Hiero away. One sapphire bang fell over his eye, his lips trembling. "Black wings….no, Father, please don't die!" Hiero uttered.

Hiero got up and swatted at the feathers, then slapped his father. Van looked weakly at his son at that, and smiled. Dilandau just watched as his eyes shrunk in his head, had weak both Hiero and Van looked, the pain in their eyes resembling what had been in his eyes when he saw Hiero collapse.

"Pain of loss….I see. This is the pain Hiero feels. He loses those he loves….no wonder he's so adamant about protecting all of us. He doesn't want to be alone, just like me. How strange." Dilandau said aloud, quieting as van's lips moved.

"I'll….urk….be with your mother now….son. These black wings are proof of that. Who….ah….ever has black wings….of Draconian…..b-blood is….d-d-dying. I'm sorry, son, I'm sorry we can't see you become k….kinnnngggggg. " Van managed out weakly, then exhaled.

Van's hand fell off the cot, swinging limply like some morbid clock pendulum. Hiero stared at his father's still form for a few moments, looking into those dead reddish-brown eyes for what seemed like forever.

"F-father….Father?" Hiero asked, shaking the body one more time, before his lips trembled violently along with his body, then threw his head back, eyes shut and tears bursting from the seams," FATHHHHHERRRRRRRRRR!!!!"

The vision faded away, leaving Dilandau in the light again, but with a harsh wind blowing about him. "Black wings….for someone who is dying….but I'm not dying, am I? No….I see what he's trying to show me, the people he's lost, all to what he thinks is his fault, but that's ridiculous. He had no control over any of their deaths….no control. He only controlled his fate, that's what counts. I control my fate the same as he does his own, my mother's death wasn't my fault, it was Folken, so were the death's of his parents. They died protecting us, loving us….even if I brought my mother pain, she loved me. She wanted me to get another chance. His parents wanted him to grow up, not for their pride, but for himself….this is all his….way of apologizing to me?" Dilandau uttered softly, then smirked and lifted his face to the endless white sky.

Long way down….I don't think I'll make it on my own….

Long way down….I don't want to live in here alone….

Long way down….I don't think I'll make it on my own….

"There's nothing to forgive, Hiero! You didn't mean it, you didn't kill them! There's nothing to forgive! Wake up now! It couldn't be helped….Ieeee!!" Dilandau shouted, then his head throbbed and body pitched downward, pain bursting in his back in a sea of silver and white.

- Earlier -

~ Alessa's Room ~

Alessa hadn't waited long for Gatti to find Val. The young dragon knight had been sleeping soundly in his room a few rooms down. Now they were both sitting at the foot of the bed while she was at the head of it on her pillow, Hiero's crystal gift in her hand and his Tarot cards in one of her pockets. She had been very pleased they hadn't been lost during all this insanity, or maybe they were just following her around as her bag had before.

She pushed the silly thoughts out of her mind for the moment and concentrated on the silver blonde and aqua-haired young men watching her with curious eyes.

"I….well, this is kind of hard to say, guys, but Hiero's touch gave me some visions of his past, on Terrian. He told me that in order to awaken correctly, I have to talk to you two about love. Is that ok with you?" she asked, feeling very nervous. She never thought her quest would be to ask people about love, but then again, it beat going after crazy and murderous monsters in a dark temple all alone.

Gatti blushed a bit, but Val smiled, unbothered. "Sure, I don't mind." Val replied, then Gatti gave a nod. "Gatti, you first, since this seems to be something you want to get over and done with. What is love to a Dragon Slayer like you?" she asked, finally getting bravery in her voice.

Gatti's blush was gone, but he hung his head low, looking incredibly boyish, but sad. " I don't love enough….not what most people would think was morally right. I am a soldier, always will be, and it overpowers my love of family….and others. I….um….could Val maybe go outside the room? I don't like discussing these matters in front of others. It's bad enough Hiero knows…." Gatti said rather sheepishly, looking from Alessa to Val.

Val gave off an apologetic smile and started to get up when Alessa clutched the young knight's arm. His new blousy shirt rippled a bit, those golden eyes of his puzzled. "Gatti, I merely asked for your opinion on love, not your secrets, not your past, just what do you think of it in your life. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to….but the two of you must tell me together, not apart." She said, keeping her icy blues on Gatti's stormy eyes.

Gatti gave an unsure nod, then Val sat back down, stretching his legs a bit, the dark pants and boots he wore glistening a bit in the dim candlelight . "I….believe love is what makes one happy, content and at peace with themselves. If it doesn't it isn't worth holding onto. I love what I do, I am a soldier through and through, it's all I wanted to be as a child, and I got it, forsaking everything else. I am still happy with my love of my life….even if other things must be sacrificed. That's what love is to me, sacrifices for a goal. It might sound hollow, but it's the way I was brought up. I can't help that." Gatti said quietly.

Val smiled a bit, his golden eyes a bit softer than before. "You got one thing right, sacrifices are a part of love, but yours is just for a goal, not a feeling." Val commented.

"As I said, it can't be helped. I have loved people, my family, women, even stupid little childish things like my first toy and pet, but….what I am now….stays with me. You should love what you do, really….Love should be sacrificed for, person or thing. That's what I say." Gatti said earnestly, his stormy blue eyes toiling passionately.

"Well, that sounds a bit better." Val replied, turning his face back to Alessa's. His hair swiveled like corn silk in the wind, much like Sir Allen's hair did. His eyes flashed teasingly, but like Gatti's would, like family. "Ok, thank you Gatti. Now for Val, what is love to you?" she asked

"Hiero." Val said simply, smiling. Gatti coughed a bit, his eyes bugging out of his head. Alessa just blinked, then rubbed at her arms. "Hiero is love to you?" she squeaked, grabbing her mouth for sounding so silly.

"Yes, he's like a real brother to me. He's been looking out for me since we met as kids. Even when he was blind, he tried to protect me. I've loved him for a long time, the brother I could never have for real, but still, he remains. He's always there. That's what love is, someone you can trust with your life and heart, someone who understands and will listen. Hiero has always selflessly looked out for my interests," Val stated proudly," He is very good representation of love, because it is all he does. He loves all of us in his own way. Love is sacrifice in a way, just like Gatti said, but its so much more than that. Hiero knows it better than anyone because he loves unconditionally, he'd die a thousand times to protect those he cares for, suffer pain, be hindered, handicapped, and abused just so that one thing could go on. He cares very little for himself when those he cares about are in trouble, you have to have seen that by now. He is love, whether he would admit it or not, he is."

Alessa took the words in, and after a few moments, she nodded. "Yes….even when we didn't ask, he would save us. He saved Migel, even though they weren't good friends, he revealed his wings to save all of us from drowning in that icy lake….because of me. God, he even….took a risk with his powers to save Freid…after I….after Chid and I…." She said, but the words failed her.

"I know, Chid told me about your little kiss, but I know my older brother. He's full of shit. I doubt you rammed your tongue down his throat the moment he swept you in his arms. That's fucking corny, even for him." Val snorted, the looked thoughtful," Hiero is one in a million, Lady Alessa. He'd die for any of his friends endlessly just to see them breathe a second later. You can't say Mr. Playboy Chid can do that or even would. Lest more tongue wrestling."

Alessa chuckled a little, smiling brightly. "I tripped….and he took advantage of that. He must have seen Hiero coming….and kissed me to get to him. Still, he ran off, he didn't even wait for me to explain….I have to get him to wake up, I have to try. For both our sakes…." She whispered and got off the bed.

Gatti was second off the bed and quickly blocked her off. "No, Lady Alessa. Lord Dilandau will kill you if you dare to try and enter that room. I can't allow you to be harmed." He said quickly. Alessa smiled at him and gave him a sudden hug, making his eyes widen and cheeks blush. Then she rammed her knee in his groin, sending the shocked Dragon Slayer to the floor in a fit of high-pitched groans.

"You're sweet to try and save me, Gatti, but I have to do this. Sorry, Dilandau or no Dilandau, I have to help Hiero just once. After all he's done and said, I should stop lying to myself and face the fact that….I love Hiero. I won't hide anymore….not from him." She told him and left the room.

Val chuckled a bit as she did, walking over to where Gatti lay holding onto his private. "Women….go figure, huh? She and him really belong together….if she'd challenge my cousin alone," Val said briskly and helped Gatti up, " Come on now, let's go get the others so we can try and protect her….might as well, there's no harm in trying."
"But this is Lord Dilandau we are talking about." Gatti said, his voice still strained and high. Val thought a moment, and shrugged. "Sorry, I forgot for a second. Let's start running."

"Better really run….so you can give her to that abomination of a king." Said a crisp and hollow voice.

Val lifted his eyes to it, and saw his older brother standing a few doors down. "Hey Chid, hear enough?" Val said pleasantly.

I never put you down, I never pushed you away….
Take another piece of me!
Give my mind a new disease!

And the black and white world never fades to gray….

Chid's defeated eyes said it all, and Val felt it served him right for trying to seduce Alessa for his own pleasure, and to hurt Hiero as a bonus. He felt bad for his brother, but not enough to comfort him. Hiero was more of a brother to Val than Chid had ever been.

Val didn't bother to wait for his answer and led Gatti off to go knock to knock on the other Slayer's doors.

~ Hiero's Sick Room ~

Val had picked the door for her, much to how much protesting the Dragon Slayers were doing. It looked so easy, she hoped Hiero or Val would teach her someday.

The door opened with a creak, Gatti pushing past her to announce them, but yelled instead. "LORD DILANDAU!"

The others shot past her, nearly trampling her and Val while Chid watched from the door across the hall, a detached look on his face. She had seen him on her way out of the room, and paid him no mind. She guessed he'd been listening in, keeping tabs on her, which she found insulting. She wasn't his to stalk.

Alessa got up off the floor and peered inside the room to see the Dragon Slayers picking Dilandau off the floor of the room. That wasn't what alarmed her, it was the two sets of white angel wings protruding from his back, the silver dragon wings between them.

"But they were black before, what the hell happened to him?" She gasped, watching them carry Dilandau's sleeping form out. Val got in front of them and inspected the slumbering general, lifting up his hands, giving them a sniff, the peered at his face, which looked unnaturally peaceful. "He must have touched Hiero….Hiero's psychic abilities probably kicked in and gave Dilandau a shock. Whatever the reason his wings went white, I don't know. You guys get him to my room and try and wake him up. We can give Alessa and Hiero some time alone. That ok with you guys?" Val asked, stepping out of the way with a smile.

The Dragon Slayers looked at each other, then Dilandau, and finally to Val. "I think it would be best. None of us could wake him up….maybe she can. Maybe it doesn't require the powers we have…." Chesta stated, getting a few uncertain nods from the others, all but Gatti and Viole, who nodded with assurance.

"Fine then, I'll lead the way, since I locked the damn thing. Take your time, Lady Alessa." Val stated, flashing her a charming grin before leaving. Alessa waited until everyone had left before reaching for the door, then noticed Chid was still across the hall, staring at her intensely.

She simply shut the door softly, not locking it. Alessa took a deep breath before turning around, her icy eyes cast upon Hiero's still and slumbering form. The bed sheets were up to the bottom of his neck, his face quite pale, and he looked to be sweating a little. She smiled at him, even if he wasn't aware of it.

Slowly, Alessa made her way to the bed, looking down at him lovingly. "I'm so sorry, Hiero. I didn't want that kiss to happen….Chid….forced himself on me. I didn't want that to happen, and I am very sorry you had to see that. Your heart must be in so much pain….that moment, and Guimel….I was powerless to help you. It's all my fault you got captured….please, just wake up, I love you, Hiero Fanel….Vendetta, whoever you want me to call you. I love you with all my heart, please wake up so I can love you for the rest of my life. Please…." She told him, touching his exposed hand gently. Strangely, his powers didn't take her. She waited a few more moments, but nothing happened, not a change in the rhythm of his quiet breathing.

"Hiero, wake up please! Please….don't you leave me behind too. I know you'd never do that to me….I know it. No one left me in my life because they chose to, it just happened, I understand that now, but please, wake up so I can tell you. Wake up…." She begged, but nothing changed.

Alessa grunted in frustration, tears slipping from her eyes. It hurt to see him like this, all because she didn't fight Chid hard enough, because she didn't fight Dilandau to try and help. She began to sob, her heart breaking at the sight of him so weak and sickly. Her tears fell swiftly, like boiling raindrops, some sparkling across Hiero's exposed hand

Then she heard it, a rumbling trill, one Hiero made when he was angry. It sounded a little like the one the dragon Hiero had slain made, only lower. She looked at him and saw his open palm was curled shut. His eyes were still shut, but strained. The sweat was gone. He was fighting to come back.

"Hiero….Hiero, it's Alessa, I'm here. Come on, wake up, you can do it. Come on…." She urged, her tears falling faster, cooling down as they splashed across Hiero's scarred cheek.

His eyes strained again, but he still wouldn't wake. Alessa exasperated and got on top of his sleeping form and shook him, his mouth opening a little, but still, he wouldn't wake up. Her eyes settled on Hiero's mouth, those pale lips on that were parted slightly, so innocent and beautiful she thought it was carved from fine marble. It was so inviting, so soft and gentle looking.

'I wanted to do this when you woke up….but….since you come from a world mine would consider of fantasy….maybe I just have to act that way….for myself.' She thought, gripping onto the top of the sheets where she guessed his chest was and took his lips hard in hers. For a moment she felt nothing but his cool lips, parted and limp, then some pressure came, a sharp gasp nearly sucking the air out of her mouth, but she kept her lips strongly on his, putting all the emotion she could into it. Then a thumping noise erupted to her right, and she had to open that eye to see what was doing it.

It was Hiero's exposed hand flipping up and down like a dying fish. It was wiggling well enough, the fingers flexing madly, then it just plopped down onto the bed, stiff and fully open.

She pulled away then, staring dead into the wide, and much missed double colored eyes of Hiero Fanel. He was breathing a little too hard, his eyes dilated. He was still out of it, his eyes starting to blink rapidly, then he brought up both hands to rub the fatigue out of them.

When he seemed to be done, the hands went down, his eyes looking up at her as a cute little pink blush stained his pale cheeks. "Alessa….is that….really you?" he asked, his voice like that of a scared child. She smiled back at him and nodded.

"You kissed me," he stated, a smile creeping up his pale lips," You actually kissed me."

"Yeah, I did, but it wasn't as an apology. I wanted to kiss you….I….love you, Hiero. I've been….oh." she began, but his right hand came up and put his fingers to her mouth. "I heard….I may have been unconscious, but I heard everything. That coma was strange, I could hear everything that was going on, but I couldn't answer, couldn't wake up. Then I heard you….and I felt stronger. You….brought me back with your love." He said happily, moving his hand away from her mouth to her hair. She let him do it, blushing a little.

She'd been so brave in saying everything to him because he was unconscious. To realize he heard it all was a little embarrassing. 'Always one step ahead….of me. Oh…the thing in Freid. He knows the truth about that too….but….' she thought, then felt something soft fall over her neck and shoulders. She felt at it and found it was her hair. Hiero had released it from the braid, and was running his fingers through it, smiling. She blushed brightly at him, a dimple erupting in her left cheek.

"Oh….Hiero, that feels nice." She said absentmindedly, forgetting her question. He went on smiling. "I like your hair in a braid, but I like it loose too. You look beautiful either way. I love you regardless of the fact, I love your soul the most. It is simply beautiful….perfect. I could never leave you behind….never say that." he smoothed out, but his voice was still weak.

"Oh yeah, you heard me….but….Hiero?" she asked, and he tilted his head to the side a bit," Um, why did you run off in Freid….after….what Chid did?"

Hiero's face looked sad then, his hand still in her hair. He looked away for awhile, at some spot on the wall. She waited, not wanting to bother him, then he spoke just as suddenly. "It's not what you think. I didn't believe that you let Chid do that. I know him a little better than you do….but….you know I said I trust you, no matter what, right?"

"Yes, I know that, but then why did you run off without confronting us?" she asked.

He looked at her again, his finger rubbing the side of her head gently as he pulled her towards his face. "I didn't want to scare you by killing Chid on the spot for what he did. I know you don't like me being all violent and such, but its what I do when I get pissed off. I didn't want to make you hate me by losing my temper and murdering Chid." He said quietly, his eyes sparkling a little.

"I could never….hate you. I'm glad….you trusted me. I'm just so sorry you were hurt." She breathed, their lips a breath away. "I know….but I'll get over it. Let's get on with the now. That past is gone, beloved, dead and gone. I best learn from it….and….get on with my life, with you." he whispered, and captured her lips in a warm, soul-searing kiss.

Alessa moaned in her throat as his kiss took hold of her body, everything going warm and numb, her heart exploding with emotion. She felt his tongue a few seconds later pressing against her lips, asking for entrance. She parted her lips slowly and took his tongue to hers, and the kiss grew hot and deep. She felt like a fireworks display was going off inside her mouth, Hiero running his fingers through her hair again, his fingers as soft as a kitten's paw and warmer than a summer's day. She wanted it to last forever. A light bathed them suddenly, bright and lavender in color, then a shooting pain erupted across her spine. Softness rained upon her skin, Hiero sitting them up slowly before his lips left hers. "You woke up….they are so beautiful. Lavender wings…." Hiero breathed, his eyes starry and full of wonder. Alessa looked back and saw the lovely lavender angel wings on her back, strips of her shirt hanging from the tops.

'My shirt….is ripped…ah shit." She thought and looked down at herself. Hiero looked down too, and they both saw more than they bargained for. Alessa's top had been torn to shreds, leaving her chest exposed. She had her white bra on, but still, Hiero could see her chest and his eyes were practically bugging out of his head. Alessa was about to cover his eyes up when she caught a glimpse of his bare thigh sticking out of the sheets. Hiero had nothing on and looked down to realize it.

"Gods, where did my boxers go?!" he screeched and wrapped the covers about his body, shutting his eyes a bit. Alessa grabbed at the sheets Hiero had not grabbed up and wrapped them about herself, blushing furiously.

He gave off a sheepish smile and shrugged. "I may want to do….something with you that requires this, but not now. That's not decent. I may be crazy, but I'm not a pervert, well, not a total pervert." He stammered, managing to put some strength in his smile.

He grinned back and kissed the tip of his nose. "I can wait….if you can." She blubbered out, and nuzzled against him. "Cheater….you're trying to tempt me." he mock accused.

She wrinkled her nose and giggled at him. "You deserve it for calling me a hooker when we met. Now we're even."

"Oh yeah, I have not yet begun to fight. En garde." He said and started to tickle her.

"No, Hiero. Hahahaha….stop it!" she laughed, but Hiero wouldn't let up, doing a very good job of attacking her ribs and keeping his body as covered as possible.

~

The door shot open a few minutes later, Hiero's assault falling short when numerous gasps echoed throughout the room. "Hiero!" the Dragon Slayer's chorused, all but Dilandau and Val, who were smirking at the two of them looking rather silly on the bed. Myrna was at the feet of the Dragon Slayers, hissing loudly with her teeth grit. Alessa got off quickly, shooting a dirty look at Myrna, to which she got a raspberry blown at her.

"Be nice, Myrna. Your big brother just woke up….too much noise." Hiero uttered loudly, smirking at the group. Myrna quickly got all cute and sweet and bound herself up on the bed, licking her hand. Hiero backed up a bit, keeping himself very covered. No way Myrna was sneaking anymore peaks at his body, not after the crap she pulled.

Hiero cast his eyes back to the men standing by the door, to Dilandau. "Hey, Dilandau. Thanks for watching over me. Much appreciated." Hiero said cheerfully. Dilandau raised a cross eyebrow. "I heard everything you said around me, I just couldn't respond. Don't worry….I won't tell anyone what any of you said….especially you Migel, you sicko pervert. I will not turn into Avaris again for your entertainment. Feel lucky you still….oh….have a tongue. Damn, I forgot completely." Hiero let out.

Dilandau nodded to Hiero response, and cast a sour look at Migel. "What exactly did you forget?" he asked curtly, shooting death glares at Migel's nervous face.

"I'm starving….Migel made me puke up all that good food I had for lunch. When do we eat?" he asked happily.

"You have a one track mind, Hiero-kun. We eat the second Chid and I get your new clothing….and Lady Alessa can borrow one of my new shirts….heh, heh." Val piped, and draped one arm lazily over Chid's slumped shoulders," Come now, big bother, time to ensure we don't get arrested in this town."

"Don't you mean 'big brother,' Val?" Chid said quizzically. Val grinned and shook his head. "Nope, I mean big bother, now get moving."

Val and Chid were gone in an instant, and Hiero had to worry a moment. Chid hated him more than an atheist. He hoped someone went along with him to get clothing or he'd been kissing some damn jester suit in a few minutes. 'Ha ha hell, I'd sooner steal his clothes and shove him in the jester suit. He of all people deserves to wear it.' He thought wickedly.

~ Hopper's Tavern ~

After Hiero wolfed down his seventh helping of turkey and guzzled down his fifth jug of cider, he took a breath and sank back into his chair while the others all watched him in disbelief. He was glad that Egzardia had great taste in food as well as in Zaibach fashions. He had liked that shirt he got from Dryden, and to have a perfect replacement was lovely. The black pants and boots helped the attire be all the more alluring to his senses, his pendant the only part of it that seemed to clash. He didn't mind really, it was better than a jester uniform. He'd have Dragu Slaved this place if that what's Chid got him.

Alessa was wearing one of Val's puffy shirts. It was a good look for her, but he preferred her Mystic Moon clothing. They were much more flattering, but her wings were even more flattering to her body. She truly looked like a heaven blessed angel, but the symbol** on her forehead had puzzled him. It had been an 'X' of purest black, like all of their symbols had been colored. It wasn't a neat 'X' either, it was more like two slanted slashes painted on her forehead that glowed a deep purple for a moment, then darkened like midnight. He'd tell her about it later. Right now, he had other things on his mind.

He looked at Dilandau after patting his full, but slender stomach, grinning widely.

"Thank you." he said simply. Dilandau looked confused a moment, then seemed to understand, his eyes lifting and falling gently, a small and brief smile crossing his lips. After all, he'd just told all of them he'd heard everything they said around him, and Dilandau had seen a mental apology from Hiero. He wasn't going to say anything to the others about it. Simply thanking Dilandau was enough, the guy was pretty smart, all be it almost as insane as Hiero was, but smart.

"Oh….Hiero, one thing is bugging me I didn't get to tell you about. My wings turned white. What does that mean?" Dilandau asked, his normal demanding tone there.

Hiero smiled at him, summoning his own wings up, a rainstorm of snowy white feathers falling around him. "We're in synch now….thanks to Alessa. They were black, I guess, because your fate would have been to die if you didn't get in synch with me. Mine stayed white because I was already in synch with you. This means you will survive the battle….not that I doubted it. Gaia herself couldn't kill you even if she tried. I had faith in your skills….so did you, so what's there to worry about anyway?" Hiero explained.

Dilandau smirked back at him, slapping him on the back hard. "Who's worrying? I was just curious. I never worry….I make other people worry themselves to death."

"I know…." Hiero sighed and reached for another piece of meat. The room shook and he paused. "I didn't think I was that hungry….hmmm." he mumbled and reached again, then the roof was blown off.

Hiero shoved his chair backwards, the others shooting to their feet as a hail of flaming wood and straw came at them, an slew of Alseides models leaning over them.

"Shit! They found us…." Hiero swore. Dilandau let out a few curses of his own, reaching for his blade as the units reached in. "NO! We don't have time for you! Go away, you bastards!!" Hiero shouted, and his pendant glowed brightly. He held it in his hand, and saw a green light reflecting with it. He turned about to see Dilandau staring at his glowing ring, the lights merging as they danced through the air.

Long way down….I don't think I'll make it on my own!
Long way down….I don't want to live in here alone!

Long way down….I don't think I'll make it on my own!

"Ah shit, not again! You and your big mouth, Hiero!" Dilandau swore, and the pillar of light spread throughout the tavern, launching them all into the night sky.

~ The Crusade ~

"We're ready to head back to Palas for repairs, Commander. It's the damnedest thing, our engine has never been this pitiful in all its years of flight. We really hit a string of a bad luck." Gaddes said evenly, Allen looking terribly put out as he nodded.

The Crusade lifted off of the rocky area they'd been forced to land in. They'd been lucky enough to fix the engine at all. It looked like someone had pulled parts out of it, deliberately. 'I know none of my men would ever stab me in the back to prove a point, not like this. My son's life is at stake, so is Myrna's. Merle wouldn't stop crying her eyes out with my wife….we've wasted so much time already trying to get this bucket of bolts in the air again….it better make it to Palas, or we'll never find those two.' He thought, hurt welling up inside his heart.

The parts that had been missing were discovered early this morning within his guymelef. How or why they were there was beyond him, so everyone left it at that and repaired the engine swiftly, but some of the parts were damaged. Palas was all he could think of, it could help with the repairs faster than holding the thing together with bandages and string. He felt pathetic having to stoop so low to hold the engine together, but it did the job, that's what really mattered.

"So after this, where to, Commander?" Gaddes asked, and Allen looked at his second in command sharply, his eyes stern and serious.

"How the hell should I know?! Val is probably no longer in Freid. We've been landing and getting stranded for days on end. I don't know where to look now. I personally wish this was a little easier, that we could find the source of all this trouble already and solve it!"

"It's not that easy, sir, it's not like the answers to our problems will just fall out of the sky." Gaddes returned crassly.

No sooner had he said it, light engulfed the Crusade, blinding everyone as it bathed them all in its sudden glory. Allen managed to gets his arms out in front of him to try and block it while Gaddes held fast on the wheel to maintain control of the ship, literally flying blind.

To be Continued….

*The Wheel of Fortune card represents the miracle of Alessa's kiss awakening Hiero and Dilandau and Alessa seeing the threads of fate weaving their own before their eyes. It is also for Alessa reaching a turning point in her life and the tempo of her life speeding up because she was open to the changes in her life at long last. Took her long enough, didn't it?

**Gebo, for the Angel of Love Alessa Demitrius, represents gifts, both in the sense of sacrifice and of generosity, indicating balance. All matters in relation to exchanges, including contracts, personal relationships (Love) and partnerships.

Teaser: Now on the Crusade, Dragon Slayers and Crusade crew members must tolerate each other all the way to Palas. Allan confronts Dilandau, Myrna is feeling lonely, and Hiero and Alessa get some time alone….