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The Fate of Two Worlds: The Sequel
By Angel_Wings
Chapter 6: Dark Message
~~~Lands East of Fanelia~~~
The dark emperor of the lost country Zaibach stared at the horizon deep in thought. The black hood still was drawn from his face letting his twisted features be visible for all who saw him. His seven chosen warriors stood behind him silent as the destroyed village, which they stood in. The fires had burned out finally and only a few coals glowed in the remains of what were once proud homes. For hours they had stood there deciding their next course of action. One of the lower demons finally stepped up beside its leader and hissed in a dead voice, "I know of a guardian that lived in the highest peaks of Gaea…."
Dornkirk did not glance at his follower or breath a word. Taking the idea that his leader was listening the figure continued, "He was friend of the guardian that dwelt here. The one that has fled to Fanelia to seek the queen will probably lead the seeress to her comrade next. If we hurry we could get there before them and have an ambush waiting there…."
Again there was no sound from the master of the seven dark ones and so another demon spoke up with a twisted female voice, "How long would it take us to reach the place you speak of?…."
Turning to his fellow murder the demon bared it fangs and growled like a mad dog, "If the wind is with us we should reach the peak by dawn…."
"Perfect…." the lead being at long last spoke with a grasp of madness dripping from his words, "Speak, old one, what is the name of the guardian who lays in the mountains?…."
Grinning savagely with daggers gleaming through the shadows decorating his grim face the beast replied, "Nembus, my lord…."
At the sound of that ancient name Dornkirk smirked the darkest grin one could have grinned and stretched his dark wings of leathery skin and ebony feathers showing their soon departure. With hisses and roars of strength the followers of the dead mortal broaden their wings and placed them against the blue of the clearing sky. The storm clouds licked at the outlines of their dark essences highlighting the idea of the evil leaving. The Zaibach emperor pulled the hood back over his face with a dragon claw and bared his fangs just before he leapt into the air and began to soar off into the sky. His followers soon joined him with the demon that had suggested the land in the mountains taking the lead as the guide. The last sign of evil was washed away as the storm clouds began to drift from the scene and the eight black dots in the sky grew too far away to see any longer from the parched streets of the village.
Not a single soul was left in that gruesome area and so the scene falls away,…. But hold! Wait!… Look upon the dead queen's cold corpse… Do you not see her stir?… Her hand slowly drags through the dirt making a small trail with her palm. Her eyes were still close and blood dripped from her body from several wounds. Tattered material on her outfit was stiff from dried blood making you think the woman had long been dead, but in fact she had unconsciously clung to her last thread of life and held breath in her bruised lungs. With weak and feeble movements the drifting hand stretched towards the place the dead king laid as though the woman wanted to lay by her husband one last time. Barely having the strength Sukai opened her emerald eyes and could see the dust swirl from a slight breeze. Bodies within her range of view laid nearby too gruesome for comfort. With no words the royal rose onto her elbows at a sluggish rate. Her chocolate hair was dirty with blood and earth as it fell over her eyes, but she did not noticed. Her focus was on the cold corpse of her beloved. The man had long since been dead, no one could doubt that, but still she called out to him, "Rei?…. Rei…."
Using only her arms as her propulsion the maiden half-crawled over to the dead body of the king. Several times the woman had to stop and gasp for air, making the small journey of the few feet between them take what must have been years to complete. Faintly her pale fingers brushed against the hand of her lost husband and with a small groan the woman laid back against the ground unable to move any closer to his dead form. She wished to lie next to him, but she was well spent and could not try again so she decided to stay like that with their hands clasped. Smiling slightly as her eyes slid shut, never to open again, the royal Draconian woman died with her husband's cold hand clasped tightly in her own. Her last breath was a contented sigh as she felt a warm comfort of holding her beloved's hand as she walked through death….
Once her body had stilled, no longer a live being dwelt in the town. As though to correct this error of perception a figure appeared from between two of the scorched buildings that had barely remained standing. You could not see his face for a silver hood and cape covered his features well and washed over his shoulders and head. A golden clasp was tightly fixed at his lower neck keeping the attire from falling away. On this golden piece of metal etched quite small on its yellowy surface was the emblem of the Draconian race, an angel in a circle of swirling lines. His arms were kept well hidden beneath the confines of the robe and since the material went all the way down to his ankles it made him look more like a ghost than a human. Gray pants were barely visible for the just exceeded the cloak by a few inches. His feet were bare and appeared as clean and firm as beautiful white marble. Shadows dwelt on the man's face allowing only his nose down to be visible to any viewers that might have watched him.
He seemed to be looking over the battlefield for several minutes as though he were studying the bodies each in turn. When his focus came on the royal couple he froze and for several minutes he was like the corpses that laid out on the torn up earth, lifeless. After a moment he walked over to the dead corpses of the Draconian couple at a pace that was neither slow nor quick, but leisure as though there was nothing to hurry his steps. Arriving at the brunette woman's side he bent down and a tan hand emerged from beneath the silvery cloak. The hand reached out as though to touch the woman's back, but once his fingers seem to brush against her green shirt the rough digits did not stop their descent. Shockingly the unknown man's fingers went right through the dead maiden's clothes like a phantom hand, or perhaps the woman was now a ghost. Either way the hand continued into the lady's body until his wrist was brushing against her shirt. Slower than when his hand entered the maiden's back the same hand exited the same area. When the hand emerged from the corpse it was in a large fist and a white glow seem to dwell beneath his skin.
Calmly the man opened his palm a bit and in it one could see a wondrous star of a snowy glow in his palm. The shining star twinkled brightly and pulsated like that of a heartbeat. For several seconds the star was left to glow upon his palm for sheer delight before the strange being tucked it away in his cloak. The illumination that had come from the mysterious star soon dimmed as it was enveloped into the shadows of the man's robe.
Once that was done the cloaked figure moved to the corpse of the fallen king to repeat the process….
~~~Vision~~~
Streaks of red lightning flew down at her and trying to knock her from her feet. Hitomi raced through the scarlet blasts that nipped at her body. Emerald eyes desperately looked for a safe haven, but saw none. Too distracted in her search the young woman was unable to dodge from a torpedo of crimson power. Pain engulfed her body and the seeress fell to the rough earth in a heap. Struggling to rise Hitomi could dimly hear the voices of her friends calling her to return to them, but she did not know how to…. or was it she did not want to?…. Something was keeping her from turning back…. Was it herself?… Or some unknown terror?… Gritting her teeth the 'Angel' raced through the darkness towards something…. something she had to reach…. Was it her friends?…. Her family perhaps?….
As she ran she glanced down at her body and noticed she was no longer heavy in child, but that didn't seem like much since in all her visions she hadn't been pregnant. Presently she wore chestnut pants with dark brown ankle boots. A long sleeve forest green shirt clothed her back only to be covered by another shirt of emerald green that was over her first. It was a rather simple attire for a queen, but at the moment Hitomi was more focused on how it fared. The outfit was nearly ripped to shreds and clung to her body as if it had to for dear life. Blood soaked into the material darken the color of her clothes and its vile stench filled her nostrils. Gashes ran over her pale skin everywhere she looked and she felt very weak and run down as if she had gone through extensive battles before now.
Looking up towards the void's sky she saw a red sphere far above her. From it thousands of red bolts of lightning shot down all around it. Striking the earth in anger the energy tried to smite down the seeress. It was a barrier to keep away the unwanted from its source of power. Already Hitomi was halfway through the field of destruction that was nearly a mile wide and felt an unnamable longing to continue forward. With the little energy she had she raced forward frantically trying to reach the destination that seemed impossible to reach, unable to force herself to turn around.
Suddenly a streak of lightning brighter, thicker, and more powerful than any of the others rained down and struck the angel at full force. The crisp lines of electricity ran over her body and a scream tore from her throat though it was very faint in her ears. Her nerves seemed to explode at the pain and her lungs felt like they collapsed. Falling to her knees the seeress gasped for some needed air and found none. The black world spun beneath her gaze as she tried to grasp onto something to steady it. Hitomi's hands flew out in front of her catching her just before she fell to the unseen ground. She could taste blood in her mouth and gagged on the foul taste of it. Droplets of red liquid painted the black earth as she spat out the blood. It was around that moment she noticed her wings…. Her wings were out and now laid limp at her sides. What startled her more though was the color of them…. They were a dark gray… nearly black… a grim gray…. Hitomi's heart skipped a bit at the sight of her most treasured gifts….
Suddenly she turned her face towards the red sphere again just in time to see another large bolt of lightning strike her down forcing her to cry out in pain….
~~~End of Vision~~~
The feeble cry from the small infirmary bed brought all the occupants of the small room from their worries and stare at the pale form of the 'Seeress from the Mystic Moon.' Millerina lend over the dear queen as she once again for the fifth time that hour checked her friend's pulse. Smiling the blonde royal realized her old rival was finally stable and would soon wake. The Fanelia King sat on the edge of the bed holding his beloved's hand since Hitomi had first been stationed in the small recovery ward. The room was separate from the other patients' area and thus gave a good deal of privacy for the group there. Sitting on a large stone bench engraved into the stone wall sat the rest of the friends worrying about the queen. Merle had her ears pricked up for any sound announcing her friend's awakening as Dryden placed a warm arm around the cat-girl's bronze shoulders. Yukari and Amano held their hands together watching intently the white bed taken up by their best friend. Resshi flanked his king with probably the most worried expression amongst the large group on his face. The knight's sister still dressed in her tattered battle outfit leaned against one of the walls with her arms cross and head bowed causing her golden strains to fall over her eyes. In the large window that was stationed at the east of the room sat the battered guardian with her eyes fixed on her mistress. The sun was falling down from the sky and already its heavy belly of golden wisps brushed against the horizon. Hues of pink, gold, and purple were flowing over the cloudless atmosphere like watercolor paints.
Slowly Hitomi's eyes fluttered open and she groaned as her head felt like it was been pounding upon. All eyes flew towards the woman with anxious pleas on their faces. Automatically she felt the warm hand of her husband and she turned in his direction with tired eyes. Overjoyed that she had finally awakened the young king smiled down at her as he blinked back the tears. The seeress weakly smiled back before trying to sit up in the small bed. However, Millerina placed two firm hands on the woman's shoulders and stated, "No, Hitomi, you need to stay lying down. Your still weak from this whole ordeal so you mustn't exert yourself."
The royal angel was not in the mood for such things to stop her from what was needed to be done and muttered, "Thank you, Millerina, but I'm quite alright. You might be a doctor, but I have gone through death already and know my limits…."
Unable to respond to such an idiom the queen removed her pale palms from her friend's shoulders and allowed her to sit up, however she did help the seeress into the position along with the help of the raven-haired king. Quickly Hitomi scanned the people inside her room and immediately her emerald eyes came to rest on the green guardian. Upon her queen's gaze falling on her the war angel lowered her eyes in shame and tried to become invisible. She knew what the queen would say. She would say she was a disgrace and would be stripped of her title before the moon had rose into the night sky. Tears formed in her silver eyes, but she quickly blinked them away for she was a warrior and was supposed to never show emotions.
The seeress had barely gotten a look at the guardian before she realized what her true situation was. She had awoken to the realization that she had fainted in her husband's arms forgetting the fact the reason why she had done so. Upon sight the guardian Hitomi had not seen in over a year she realized her old vision about her father… it was reality…. and with that note came the fact that her mother was also dead…. It was something Hitomi wished she never had to wake up to yet she again had to face the truth about her parents' death for a second time in her life….
Clenching the pale sheet in her clenched fingers the brunette woman could feel the tears lining her green eyes and she forced them away so as not to be seen by the large audience invading the room. Putting all the strength she could put into her voice the seeress whisper, "Would everyone please leave a moment so I might talk to Lady Sian alone…."
Everyone looked at each other. No one wanted to leave. They had waited many hours for the pregnant queen to awake and when she did they were ordered out?…. Van was not about to leave his wife's side and her personal bodyguard, Resshi, still upset from his absence at the glass house incident wasn't eager in leaving his queen either. Millerina noticed the familiar glint in her sister-queen's eyes and she knew right away Hitomi needed a moment. It was same look Hitomi had when her world had been destroyed…. lost….
Without saying a word the Austurian queen slowly walked away from the small pearly bed and upon the door leading into the corridor. She glanced back at the group that stared at her. They looked at her confused at first unable to believe she was willing to leave their weak comrade's side. Millerina came them a look that was an urgent plea asking them without words to listen to the angel queen. Glancing one last time at his old friend, Dryden rose from the stone bench and passed by his wife to exit the room. The bronze cat-girl's ears fell down sadly and slowly she followed the king with her fluffy tail dragging along the gray floor. Sighing Amano, Yukari, and Celena left without a backwards glance, but Van and Resshi were hesitant to step away from their queen's side. Hitomi looked up at her angel king and beseeched him with her eyes to grant her that small request.
For several moments the white dragon stared into her emerald pools feeling his heart aching for her asking him to leave. They were one…. Not two separate beings…. They held no secrets…. Yet he felt as if she was trying to hide something…. The seeress could see the hurt in her angel's eyes so she tugged his hand a little gesturing him to bring his face close to hers. Slowly Van knelt on one knee beside the snowy bed and looked deep into the woman's eyes imploring her. Smiling the 'Angel' whispered, "I just want to be able to confront Sian by herself so she will have faith in me…. I don't want other people distracting her…."
Van glanced at the silent form of the green dressed warrior and though her face was shadowed by her dark bangs he could see a dark cloud of sorrow and shame over the fine warrior. Understanding he turned back to his beloved one last time just as he saw the seeress mouth the word, 'Please….'
Unable to deny her wish any further he caressed her pale cheek in his tan palm and tenderly kissed her brow. Hitomi smiled as she saw her angel king rise from the stone floor and make his way to the door leaving Resshi by her side. The young queen could feel the guilt radiating from the man… Not from his refusal to leave, but from his ill duty as a proper bodyguard. He had vowed never to leave her side again (except at night) and was not about to break such a promise. Gently the weak lady took the general's hand in her own two and looked up into his sad face. His chocolate eyes glanced at her before focusing on the floor downcast. Carefully Hitomi chose her words, "Please, Resshi, grant me this. I know you want to protect me, and that you feel guilty for the other day, but I hold no remorse towards you. You did only what I told you when I asked to have some time alone with my friends. Please…. You'll be right outside if there is any trouble…."
The bearded man smiled down at the wise woman with a small glow in his heart. The unbearable weight that had been heavy on his shoulder drifted away and he felt vigorous again. However when he glanced upwards Hitomi saw the strangest thing happen. Resshi looked over at the window where the angel warrior sat and he frowned. The seeress's brow came together as she wondered what was wrong with her guard. His dark mud brown eyes glared at the guardian for several seconds before the moment passed and his face grew gentle again as he gave a final glance to his queen before leaving the room. Luckily Sian's eyes had been downcast and she had not seen the man's angry look directed at her. With a small creak the door to the private infirmary closed and the two old friends were left alone.
Hitomi stared at the woman for several moments. Sian did not appeared to have change over the last year… though she had never changed in centuries so there was not much room for surprise. However the seeress did wonder how the woman could have been wounded during battle. She had been immortal last time they had seen each other…. Or at least that's what Hitomi had thought…. Yet there she sat with bloody bandages covering several injuries. Sian's left eye had turned a shade of black and the area surrounding the silver jewel was puffy and sore. Bruises dotted her beautiful milky skin and red stains ran through the material of her outfit in patches. It was a little odd…. to say the least….
Sighing softly the queen of the most powerful country on Gaea called, "Come to me, Sian…."
The guardian barely glanced at her mistress before slowly walking over to her with her silver pools covered by mahogany locks. With graceful movements the warrior went to one knee and positioned herself by her queen's side with her eyes still focused on the floor. Hitomi knew why the woman was acting so sorrowful and picked up the maiden's chin with a slim hand.
Sian looked her lady straight in the eyes unable to turn away at the moment their gazes locked. She was her queen and in all rights she, a guardian, was to face everything her mistress ordered and do it with honesty. The poor warrior wanted to speak out, but her tongue felt as dry as the dessert and could not articulate a single word. Seeing her inability Hitomi decided to speak, "Sian, I know you feel guilty for my parents death and for the destruction of your villages,…. but you did all you could and should not--"
Quickly the green maiden interrupted, "My queen, I know you are my friend and do not wish to see me in guilt for untruth, but I am fully responsible for the lives lost at that battle…."
Shaking her head and making her bangs bounce over her eyes the seeress replied, "No, Sian, you are not."
"But I am!" the guardian responded more forcefully, "I was the land's protector and your family's. I took on the responsibility of that duty and when the time came for me to protect them I failed and they paid for it with their lives."
Sian again looked at the stone floor in utter shame and disgrace. Once again the poor guardian could not look her queen in the face. Hitomi allowed the woman to watch the floor as she whispered slowly, "Sian…. I believe no one would have been able to save my parents today…. Even if I was there I feel I would not have had enough power to stop them from falling into death…. I only know is that you are not responsible…."
Gradually the guardian lifted her face to her mistress as the seeress continued, "You were their protector and you did everything you could to stop them. You are blameless. What you did today was in hope that you could save them. You could only be blamed if you had turned around and ran leaving your people defenseless, but no you stayed and fought until you could fight no more. In my eyes you did everything a guardian could do and though a great deal of people were lost today I will never accuse you of failing those people…."
Tears sparkled in the ancient warrior's eyes and silver droplets slipped down Sian's cheeks as she whispered, "Thank you…."
~~~Unknown Void~~~
The red devil roared in frustration as he again threw himself against the sealed opening. Once again the seal was still and silence as though it were secretly laughing at Akuma's attempts to escape the inevitable dungeon. Fangs bared in an angry snarl the Demon King rallied what was left of his powers to form a small sphere of red light. Letting the ball of power grow until it became as large as a bowling ball the scarlet figure threw the item with full force at the opening before him. The ball of power merely hissed into nothing as it came into contact of the seal leaving the passage untouched. The demon swore dozens of curses in several different tongues as he glared at the one thing that held him in the dark void of confinement.
Nearby floated the golden form of the powerful god, Joutei. Though is body was of burning yellow flames making his physical features hazy you could see him staring at the Underworld King with little interest. Off in the vast blackness flew souls of Hell and Heaven looking for ways out. Only the King of the Universe was still and sullen. His golden form continual watched his fellow immortal ram himself countless times against the doorway that led to their freedom.
After growing so outrageously frustrated the red beast snapped his eyes back at his superior and growled, "Are you trying to mock me, Joutei?! As you stand there in this infernal realm do you try to mock me?!"
Wisely the king replied, "How do I mock you as you so accuse?"
Burning heat coursed through the demon's body and Akuma could barely control his fury as he hissed with shocking control, "You stand there as though our situation is nothing…. Do you enjoy watching me fail?! Do you let me continue my attacks on this seal just for your amusement?!…. If so, Advocate, then I will--"
"You will what, Akuma?" asked the powerful being in a calm and placid voice, "Your powers have been stolen while mine are nearly completely intact… Do you dare challenge me when you know very well the gruesome outcome of what you start?"
The Devil glared at his adversary knowing full well that his fellow immortal was correct. Baring his fangs the red demon growled, "If you are so powerful, Joutei, than why do you stand there as though nothing is wrong?…. Do you not wish to escape this crude, but effective prison?…."
Nodding slightly the man of gold fire answered, "Of course, my friend, but I can not open the seal any better than you can…."
Infuriated the demon cried, "Bulls--"
"Do not speak such words in my presence, Akuma!" Joutei roared with deep authority. The being seemed to glow a little brighter from his outburst.
Aggravated with the hold the being held over him the scarlet being recoiled and snarled at the Supreme Being, "Then answer me, Joutei. Tell me the true reason why you allow all this to occur…. Do not hold your tongue! Answer me!"
Silence came from the golden flame god sending Akuma into an angry fit. The red devil reared his head and roared angrily to the blackness screaming curses and foul things that only he, the Devil, would speak. The arrowhead tail swung through the air like a stinger and his claws dug into the shadows. Fangs sharper than diamonds clamped down on still air while hisses and curses flew from dark lips. After several moments of exertion Akuma quieted down and glared at the god.
With barely moving his lips Joutei said, "It is not time for me to reveal the answer to the question on which you ask, but I will tell you that my champion, if you may call her that, will complete an important task for me….."
Akuma started at this and his eyes of burning ciders stared at him silently for several moments. With a shocked cry the demon asked, "You are placing the future of the cosmos in the hands of a mortal?! You place faith in the same people who rejected you over hundreds of centuries ago?!"
Nodding Joutei gave a frank, "Yes…."
"You place your essence…. your power…. your future…. in the wench from the Mystic Moon?!" the Devil proclaimed still in shock, "WHY?! Why do you put your faith in someone who cannot do a task you deemed him or her to do?! Surely she will die before she will complete whatever you desire!"
Wisely the golden figure replied, "What if that is my wish, Akuma?"
Confused the demon stared at the ruler, "What do imply, Joutei?"
Standing still as he surveyed the void of darkness the god answered, "What if the seeress's death is what I wish?"
The demon frowned at the absurd question, "You, Joutei, would not condemn your own guardian…."
"Condemn?…. No…." Joutei murmured quietly more to himself than his fellow immortal, "But if she were to die I can do nothing…. for as long as the task is completed the death of her is irrelevant…. She will die in my name if needed, but I will not forsake her…. She will do it herself…."
~~~Fanelia~~~
With a groan the docking bay doors slowly opened revealing the inside of the large sail ship the 'Crusade'. The sun of the early morn yawned in disinterest at the large metal transportation as though the idea of it was rather crude. Standing in the sunlight streaming into the opening stood a trio of men. A blonde knight in a royal blue tunic with pearly sleeves and sword at his side stood behind two young teenage boys, who were now considered men. The two young adults were very similar to each other. Both were of noble birth which you could see from the country emblem's adorned on their richly dressed vests. Their hair was cut short and well trimmed while swords barely mastered hung loosely at their royal sides.
The first lad had sun drop hair and was crowned by a golden circlet. His eyes were of the summer skies and his vest that fell to his knees matched his sparkling jeweled eyes perfectly with gold trimming it. Beneath his vest he wore a long white-sleeved shirt that was tucked away into brown leather gloves. Cream pants were also tucked away in the same fashion in the young man's knee boots of matching brown leather. A golden sash trimmed in royal blue thread was snugly wrapped around his waist almost completely covering the mud leather belt that held his exquisite scarab and sword. On his vest, sash, scarab, and hilt of his sword were the identical emblems of the country Freid marking his origin.
Next to him was a lad of rich chocolate strains that fell over his chestnut eyes repeatedly. An identical circlet like the prior man's dressed his silky locks also making it known his position in society. Though he was dressed in the same exact outfit as his fellow noble he wore a forest green vest with gold trimmings and a golden sash with green trimmings. The emblem he proudly showed on his attire was not the same either for it was an ancient marking not often seen around Gaea. It was the crest of the Draconian race.
With a proud stride the three men walked down from the docking bay doors and headed towards the front entrance of the large stone castle that stood before them. At the doorway already stood a welcoming group. At the head stood the King of Fanelia with Advisor Merle and Guardian Sian flanking his shoulders. Behind them stood the royal family of Austuria with their new babe held tightly in its mother's arms. Standing on her own near the very rear of the welcoming group stood the proud soldier of Freid, Celena.
As the new arrivals grew closer to the group shock faces were exchanged from both sides. Fanelia had been expecting only Prince Mamoru to be arriving that day on the 'Crusade' yet here came the King of Freid and his personal bodyguard, Sir Allen Schezard. What startled the arrivals was that Lady Celena and Guardian Sian stood amongst the group when they were suppose to be days away in a distant land. Ignoring the surprises King Chid stepped towards his dear friends and shook hands with his fellow kings.
"King Chid" replied Van in the tongue of a royal, "I welcome you and Sir Allen to Fanelia."
"I thank you, King Van" the young man replied in all nobility, "I did not mean to come unannounced, but word had reached me that Queen Hitomi, along with many of citizens of Fanelia, were victims in a horrible accident two days ago."
Sighing tiredly the raven headed king said, "Word travel quickly these days, but I am afraid the matter has grown far beyond a small accident."
Agitated with the wasted time of exchanging noble words the brunette youth stepped forward disturbing the conversation, "Excuse my interruption, but what of my sister?"
Van turned to the young man and could see the sparks of concerns glittering in the boy's eyes. Trying his best not to show anything about the youth's parents' death the young king replied in a strong voice, "She is resting in our chambers. She wanted me to tell you that she wishes to speak with you as soon as possible."
Nodding quickly the young boy brushed past the group of friends saying a silent 'excuse me' on his way to his sister's side. The group watched the youth leave before anyone dared to speak. Chid looked up into the White Dragon's eyes and asked in the voice of a friend, "What's going on, Van?"
With a heavy sigh the king muttered, "There is a lot to discuss, but we will only speak of it after midday for it is Hitomi's wish. She wanted to speak to her brother first."
The blonde youth glanced around the group and felt an uneasy feeling gripped his heart. He noticed his father talking with his aunt and took note of how the woman looked like she had been in a fight. Taking a glance towards the angel guardian the young man felt her appearance was part of a grave situation. Something was going on…. Looking at his royal aunt with her husband he could see the worry look in her eyes of the same blue of his own. Something terrible was going on….
Mamoru stepped in front of the large oak double doors and nodded to the guards there to let him in. Swiftly the wooden entrance was open for the royal revealing a beautiful room decorated in light blue and cream marble with handcraft furniture and large vases of foreign flowers placed in different parts of the room. Even though the area was filled with beauty and glory a dark feeling of sorrow that radiated from its back room overshadowed it. With nervous steps the young boy stepped through the sitting room and passed through the open door that led into his sister's royal bedroom. The sun streamed from the open windows allowing the wind to play with the gentle wisp of the curtains framing the giant openings. On a bed of beautiful cream material laid his dear sister sitting up against many of the pillows that were placed on her bed.
Hitomi was dressed in a long sleeve nightgown of plain white that made her pale skin mingle with the coloration of her attire. Her red teardrop pendant laid lazily against her chest coming just below her v-shaped collar. The seeress's emerald eyes were dull from the stress of the prior days and thus it made the boy concern. She seemed paler than usually and from the way her face looked it appeared she had some unwelcoming information. He had felt something was wrong when he had noticed the woman in green and the knight's sister at his arrival. He did not know the woman dressed in the emerald color, but he thought Lady Celena was far away in a distant land. The disturbing fact of the soldier's presence did not settle on his mind well.
It was then Mamoru noticed the familiar bodyguard of the resting queen standing beside the bed. Resshi seemed to be in strange disposition being that he rarely entered the queen's quarters unless there was concern. Hitomi waved her guard away and for a moment the prince almost thought the general was going to disobey the order, but after a bit of hesitation the brunette man left the room and closed the door behind him to give the two siblings some privacy.
There was an awkward silence between the two relatives. Both stared back at each other neither truly knowing what to say. Hitomi could feel the sadness falling over her again and she could sense the tears coming, but she forced them back knowing it wasn't the time. Taking a deep breath the young woman whispered, "Please, come sit down beside me, Mamoru…."
Slowly the boy made his way to the foot of the bed and sat down on the soft comforter making his clothes rustle. Quietly he stared back at his older sister and asked, "Are you alright, Hito?"
The familiar nickname almost brought tears again to the seeress's eyes, but luckily she was able to again blink them back, "I will be fine, but that is not what I want to talk to you about…. It deals with mom and dad…."
A sudden chill ran down the boy's spine and he felt a ghastly hand gripped his heart. The dark foreshadowing played on his soul and he stared intently into his older sister's eyes of emeralds imploring the unknown, "What's going on? What happened?"
Taking another breath of air to steady herself the young queen began, "There was a battle in the village where mom and dad were staying… A lot of people were killed, but luckily mom was able to save the remaining survivors of the villages… Sian, well the woman in green you probably have already seen, was the guardian there. She and Celena barely made it out with their lives…"
It was plain to both siblings that the issue dealing with their parents was being skipped over and though the brown headed youth was not eager to ask the question he asked in a voice filled with dread, "They didn't make it back though,…. did they?…."
Hitomi felt the tears slip down her cheeks and felt the self-control in her escape her hold finally. Unable to speak the woman shook her head confirming his accusation. The boy flung his arms around his sister's neck and shuddered as a sob escaped his throat. Somehow he had known that something had happened to his parents. He did not know how he knew; he had just known. Perhaps his powers were developing and he was slowly becoming aware of his abilities, but for now that is to be laid aside. Clutching each other close for comfort the two family members cried endless tears for their parents. Both felt lost and now alone without the two people they had forever been dependent on. Though their lives had finally weaned them away from their parents' side they were never severed from the relationship held between them. No one could do that to such a firm bond. Their hearts were shattered and the pieces were so small that you could have fit them through the eye of a needle. Then those shattered remains would fall and twinkle into the night become stars to mark the death of their love ones. Sorrow poured forth and their mourning was not leashed for it needed to be let out. To cry is far better than holding it in and letting it torture you to death. So they cried… and cried… and cried until there were no more tears to shed… Though the tears could no longer fall the sorrow continued to dwell in the two siblings' hearts and so they continued to cling to one another…
Hitomi held her brother like she would her own child and felt a sense of motherhood in the effect. In all sense she was a mother to her younger brother. They had been brother and sister, yes, but in a way it was more than that. Perhaps she wasn't considered fully a mother to him by either of their standards, but she had taken on a similar role… She had taken on the role of an older sister. She had been there for him when times were tough and the struggle hard. She had sacrificed her time just so she could spend it with him. When his life became turned upside down with their world's destruction she had been like one of the legs he stood upon. Now apart of him had collapsed. The leg that had been his parents had vanished and desperately he clung onto the only support he had… his sister… She was not his mother, but she was his friend… and from that they had grown closer… Yet at that moment when the truth was revealed before the young prince neither could comfort the other… It was a situation only they themselves could deal with individually…
~Tell me what you think of this chapter! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!~
~Maybe this was a boring chapter and shorter than prior chapters, but I had to stop it here or the chapter would have been twenty pages long and then it would have taken longer to post!!!~
~Next chapter should be out by Mon. or Tues. It would be sooner, but I got some cool Christmas presents I want to work with some of my days off from school. Sorry~
~Here's another chapter for you to enjoy! Hope you like it and please review after your done reading!~
~Thank you all for the encouraging reviews I have received so far!~
The Fate of Two Worlds: The Sequel
By Angel_Wings
Chapter 6: Dark Message
~~~Lands East of Fanelia~~~
The dark emperor of the lost country Zaibach stared at the horizon deep in thought. The black hood still was drawn from his face letting his twisted features be visible for all who saw him. His seven chosen warriors stood behind him silent as the destroyed village, which they stood in. The fires had burned out finally and only a few coals glowed in the remains of what were once proud homes. For hours they had stood there deciding their next course of action. One of the lower demons finally stepped up beside its leader and hissed in a dead voice, "I know of a guardian that lived in the highest peaks of Gaea…."
Dornkirk did not glance at his follower or breath a word. Taking the idea that his leader was listening the figure continued, "He was friend of the guardian that dwelt here. The one that has fled to Fanelia to seek the queen will probably lead the seeress to her comrade next. If we hurry we could get there before them and have an ambush waiting there…."
Again there was no sound from the master of the seven dark ones and so another demon spoke up with a twisted female voice, "How long would it take us to reach the place you speak of?…."
Turning to his fellow murder the demon bared it fangs and growled like a mad dog, "If the wind is with us we should reach the peak by dawn…."
"Perfect…." the lead being at long last spoke with a grasp of madness dripping from his words, "Speak, old one, what is the name of the guardian who lays in the mountains?…."
Grinning savagely with daggers gleaming through the shadows decorating his grim face the beast replied, "Nembus, my lord…."
At the sound of that ancient name Dornkirk smirked the darkest grin one could have grinned and stretched his dark wings of leathery skin and ebony feathers showing their soon departure. With hisses and roars of strength the followers of the dead mortal broaden their wings and placed them against the blue of the clearing sky. The storm clouds licked at the outlines of their dark essences highlighting the idea of the evil leaving. The Zaibach emperor pulled the hood back over his face with a dragon claw and bared his fangs just before he leapt into the air and began to soar off into the sky. His followers soon joined him with the demon that had suggested the land in the mountains taking the lead as the guide. The last sign of evil was washed away as the storm clouds began to drift from the scene and the eight black dots in the sky grew too far away to see any longer from the parched streets of the village.
Not a single soul was left in that gruesome area and so the scene falls away,…. But hold! Wait!… Look upon the dead queen's cold corpse… Do you not see her stir?… Her hand slowly drags through the dirt making a small trail with her palm. Her eyes were still close and blood dripped from her body from several wounds. Tattered material on her outfit was stiff from dried blood making you think the woman had long been dead, but in fact she had unconsciously clung to her last thread of life and held breath in her bruised lungs. With weak and feeble movements the drifting hand stretched towards the place the dead king laid as though the woman wanted to lay by her husband one last time. Barely having the strength Sukai opened her emerald eyes and could see the dust swirl from a slight breeze. Bodies within her range of view laid nearby too gruesome for comfort. With no words the royal rose onto her elbows at a sluggish rate. Her chocolate hair was dirty with blood and earth as it fell over her eyes, but she did not noticed. Her focus was on the cold corpse of her beloved. The man had long since been dead, no one could doubt that, but still she called out to him, "Rei?…. Rei…."
Using only her arms as her propulsion the maiden half-crawled over to the dead body of the king. Several times the woman had to stop and gasp for air, making the small journey of the few feet between them take what must have been years to complete. Faintly her pale fingers brushed against the hand of her lost husband and with a small groan the woman laid back against the ground unable to move any closer to his dead form. She wished to lie next to him, but she was well spent and could not try again so she decided to stay like that with their hands clasped. Smiling slightly as her eyes slid shut, never to open again, the royal Draconian woman died with her husband's cold hand clasped tightly in her own. Her last breath was a contented sigh as she felt a warm comfort of holding her beloved's hand as she walked through death….
Once her body had stilled, no longer a live being dwelt in the town. As though to correct this error of perception a figure appeared from between two of the scorched buildings that had barely remained standing. You could not see his face for a silver hood and cape covered his features well and washed over his shoulders and head. A golden clasp was tightly fixed at his lower neck keeping the attire from falling away. On this golden piece of metal etched quite small on its yellowy surface was the emblem of the Draconian race, an angel in a circle of swirling lines. His arms were kept well hidden beneath the confines of the robe and since the material went all the way down to his ankles it made him look more like a ghost than a human. Gray pants were barely visible for the just exceeded the cloak by a few inches. His feet were bare and appeared as clean and firm as beautiful white marble. Shadows dwelt on the man's face allowing only his nose down to be visible to any viewers that might have watched him.
He seemed to be looking over the battlefield for several minutes as though he were studying the bodies each in turn. When his focus came on the royal couple he froze and for several minutes he was like the corpses that laid out on the torn up earth, lifeless. After a moment he walked over to the dead corpses of the Draconian couple at a pace that was neither slow nor quick, but leisure as though there was nothing to hurry his steps. Arriving at the brunette woman's side he bent down and a tan hand emerged from beneath the silvery cloak. The hand reached out as though to touch the woman's back, but once his fingers seem to brush against her green shirt the rough digits did not stop their descent. Shockingly the unknown man's fingers went right through the dead maiden's clothes like a phantom hand, or perhaps the woman was now a ghost. Either way the hand continued into the lady's body until his wrist was brushing against her shirt. Slower than when his hand entered the maiden's back the same hand exited the same area. When the hand emerged from the corpse it was in a large fist and a white glow seem to dwell beneath his skin.
Calmly the man opened his palm a bit and in it one could see a wondrous star of a snowy glow in his palm. The shining star twinkled brightly and pulsated like that of a heartbeat. For several seconds the star was left to glow upon his palm for sheer delight before the strange being tucked it away in his cloak. The illumination that had come from the mysterious star soon dimmed as it was enveloped into the shadows of the man's robe.
Once that was done the cloaked figure moved to the corpse of the fallen king to repeat the process….
~~~Vision~~~
Streaks of red lightning flew down at her and trying to knock her from her feet. Hitomi raced through the scarlet blasts that nipped at her body. Emerald eyes desperately looked for a safe haven, but saw none. Too distracted in her search the young woman was unable to dodge from a torpedo of crimson power. Pain engulfed her body and the seeress fell to the rough earth in a heap. Struggling to rise Hitomi could dimly hear the voices of her friends calling her to return to them, but she did not know how to…. or was it she did not want to?…. Something was keeping her from turning back…. Was it herself?… Or some unknown terror?… Gritting her teeth the 'Angel' raced through the darkness towards something…. something she had to reach…. Was it her friends?…. Her family perhaps?….
As she ran she glanced down at her body and noticed she was no longer heavy in child, but that didn't seem like much since in all her visions she hadn't been pregnant. Presently she wore chestnut pants with dark brown ankle boots. A long sleeve forest green shirt clothed her back only to be covered by another shirt of emerald green that was over her first. It was a rather simple attire for a queen, but at the moment Hitomi was more focused on how it fared. The outfit was nearly ripped to shreds and clung to her body as if it had to for dear life. Blood soaked into the material darken the color of her clothes and its vile stench filled her nostrils. Gashes ran over her pale skin everywhere she looked and she felt very weak and run down as if she had gone through extensive battles before now.
Looking up towards the void's sky she saw a red sphere far above her. From it thousands of red bolts of lightning shot down all around it. Striking the earth in anger the energy tried to smite down the seeress. It was a barrier to keep away the unwanted from its source of power. Already Hitomi was halfway through the field of destruction that was nearly a mile wide and felt an unnamable longing to continue forward. With the little energy she had she raced forward frantically trying to reach the destination that seemed impossible to reach, unable to force herself to turn around.
Suddenly a streak of lightning brighter, thicker, and more powerful than any of the others rained down and struck the angel at full force. The crisp lines of electricity ran over her body and a scream tore from her throat though it was very faint in her ears. Her nerves seemed to explode at the pain and her lungs felt like they collapsed. Falling to her knees the seeress gasped for some needed air and found none. The black world spun beneath her gaze as she tried to grasp onto something to steady it. Hitomi's hands flew out in front of her catching her just before she fell to the unseen ground. She could taste blood in her mouth and gagged on the foul taste of it. Droplets of red liquid painted the black earth as she spat out the blood. It was around that moment she noticed her wings…. Her wings were out and now laid limp at her sides. What startled her more though was the color of them…. They were a dark gray… nearly black… a grim gray…. Hitomi's heart skipped a bit at the sight of her most treasured gifts….
Suddenly she turned her face towards the red sphere again just in time to see another large bolt of lightning strike her down forcing her to cry out in pain….
~~~End of Vision~~~
The feeble cry from the small infirmary bed brought all the occupants of the small room from their worries and stare at the pale form of the 'Seeress from the Mystic Moon.' Millerina lend over the dear queen as she once again for the fifth time that hour checked her friend's pulse. Smiling the blonde royal realized her old rival was finally stable and would soon wake. The Fanelia King sat on the edge of the bed holding his beloved's hand since Hitomi had first been stationed in the small recovery ward. The room was separate from the other patients' area and thus gave a good deal of privacy for the group there. Sitting on a large stone bench engraved into the stone wall sat the rest of the friends worrying about the queen. Merle had her ears pricked up for any sound announcing her friend's awakening as Dryden placed a warm arm around the cat-girl's bronze shoulders. Yukari and Amano held their hands together watching intently the white bed taken up by their best friend. Resshi flanked his king with probably the most worried expression amongst the large group on his face. The knight's sister still dressed in her tattered battle outfit leaned against one of the walls with her arms cross and head bowed causing her golden strains to fall over her eyes. In the large window that was stationed at the east of the room sat the battered guardian with her eyes fixed on her mistress. The sun was falling down from the sky and already its heavy belly of golden wisps brushed against the horizon. Hues of pink, gold, and purple were flowing over the cloudless atmosphere like watercolor paints.
Slowly Hitomi's eyes fluttered open and she groaned as her head felt like it was been pounding upon. All eyes flew towards the woman with anxious pleas on their faces. Automatically she felt the warm hand of her husband and she turned in his direction with tired eyes. Overjoyed that she had finally awakened the young king smiled down at her as he blinked back the tears. The seeress weakly smiled back before trying to sit up in the small bed. However, Millerina placed two firm hands on the woman's shoulders and stated, "No, Hitomi, you need to stay lying down. Your still weak from this whole ordeal so you mustn't exert yourself."
The royal angel was not in the mood for such things to stop her from what was needed to be done and muttered, "Thank you, Millerina, but I'm quite alright. You might be a doctor, but I have gone through death already and know my limits…."
Unable to respond to such an idiom the queen removed her pale palms from her friend's shoulders and allowed her to sit up, however she did help the seeress into the position along with the help of the raven-haired king. Quickly Hitomi scanned the people inside her room and immediately her emerald eyes came to rest on the green guardian. Upon her queen's gaze falling on her the war angel lowered her eyes in shame and tried to become invisible. She knew what the queen would say. She would say she was a disgrace and would be stripped of her title before the moon had rose into the night sky. Tears formed in her silver eyes, but she quickly blinked them away for she was a warrior and was supposed to never show emotions.
The seeress had barely gotten a look at the guardian before she realized what her true situation was. She had awoken to the realization that she had fainted in her husband's arms forgetting the fact the reason why she had done so. Upon sight the guardian Hitomi had not seen in over a year she realized her old vision about her father… it was reality…. and with that note came the fact that her mother was also dead…. It was something Hitomi wished she never had to wake up to yet she again had to face the truth about her parents' death for a second time in her life….
Clenching the pale sheet in her clenched fingers the brunette woman could feel the tears lining her green eyes and she forced them away so as not to be seen by the large audience invading the room. Putting all the strength she could put into her voice the seeress whisper, "Would everyone please leave a moment so I might talk to Lady Sian alone…."
Everyone looked at each other. No one wanted to leave. They had waited many hours for the pregnant queen to awake and when she did they were ordered out?…. Van was not about to leave his wife's side and her personal bodyguard, Resshi, still upset from his absence at the glass house incident wasn't eager in leaving his queen either. Millerina noticed the familiar glint in her sister-queen's eyes and she knew right away Hitomi needed a moment. It was same look Hitomi had when her world had been destroyed…. lost….
Without saying a word the Austurian queen slowly walked away from the small pearly bed and upon the door leading into the corridor. She glanced back at the group that stared at her. They looked at her confused at first unable to believe she was willing to leave their weak comrade's side. Millerina came them a look that was an urgent plea asking them without words to listen to the angel queen. Glancing one last time at his old friend, Dryden rose from the stone bench and passed by his wife to exit the room. The bronze cat-girl's ears fell down sadly and slowly she followed the king with her fluffy tail dragging along the gray floor. Sighing Amano, Yukari, and Celena left without a backwards glance, but Van and Resshi were hesitant to step away from their queen's side. Hitomi looked up at her angel king and beseeched him with her eyes to grant her that small request.
For several moments the white dragon stared into her emerald pools feeling his heart aching for her asking him to leave. They were one…. Not two separate beings…. They held no secrets…. Yet he felt as if she was trying to hide something…. The seeress could see the hurt in her angel's eyes so she tugged his hand a little gesturing him to bring his face close to hers. Slowly Van knelt on one knee beside the snowy bed and looked deep into the woman's eyes imploring her. Smiling the 'Angel' whispered, "I just want to be able to confront Sian by herself so she will have faith in me…. I don't want other people distracting her…."
Van glanced at the silent form of the green dressed warrior and though her face was shadowed by her dark bangs he could see a dark cloud of sorrow and shame over the fine warrior. Understanding he turned back to his beloved one last time just as he saw the seeress mouth the word, 'Please….'
Unable to deny her wish any further he caressed her pale cheek in his tan palm and tenderly kissed her brow. Hitomi smiled as she saw her angel king rise from the stone floor and make his way to the door leaving Resshi by her side. The young queen could feel the guilt radiating from the man… Not from his refusal to leave, but from his ill duty as a proper bodyguard. He had vowed never to leave her side again (except at night) and was not about to break such a promise. Gently the weak lady took the general's hand in her own two and looked up into his sad face. His chocolate eyes glanced at her before focusing on the floor downcast. Carefully Hitomi chose her words, "Please, Resshi, grant me this. I know you want to protect me, and that you feel guilty for the other day, but I hold no remorse towards you. You did only what I told you when I asked to have some time alone with my friends. Please…. You'll be right outside if there is any trouble…."
The bearded man smiled down at the wise woman with a small glow in his heart. The unbearable weight that had been heavy on his shoulder drifted away and he felt vigorous again. However when he glanced upwards Hitomi saw the strangest thing happen. Resshi looked over at the window where the angel warrior sat and he frowned. The seeress's brow came together as she wondered what was wrong with her guard. His dark mud brown eyes glared at the guardian for several seconds before the moment passed and his face grew gentle again as he gave a final glance to his queen before leaving the room. Luckily Sian's eyes had been downcast and she had not seen the man's angry look directed at her. With a small creak the door to the private infirmary closed and the two old friends were left alone.
Hitomi stared at the woman for several moments. Sian did not appeared to have change over the last year… though she had never changed in centuries so there was not much room for surprise. However the seeress did wonder how the woman could have been wounded during battle. She had been immortal last time they had seen each other…. Or at least that's what Hitomi had thought…. Yet there she sat with bloody bandages covering several injuries. Sian's left eye had turned a shade of black and the area surrounding the silver jewel was puffy and sore. Bruises dotted her beautiful milky skin and red stains ran through the material of her outfit in patches. It was a little odd…. to say the least….
Sighing softly the queen of the most powerful country on Gaea called, "Come to me, Sian…."
The guardian barely glanced at her mistress before slowly walking over to her with her silver pools covered by mahogany locks. With graceful movements the warrior went to one knee and positioned herself by her queen's side with her eyes still focused on the floor. Hitomi knew why the woman was acting so sorrowful and picked up the maiden's chin with a slim hand.
Sian looked her lady straight in the eyes unable to turn away at the moment their gazes locked. She was her queen and in all rights she, a guardian, was to face everything her mistress ordered and do it with honesty. The poor warrior wanted to speak out, but her tongue felt as dry as the dessert and could not articulate a single word. Seeing her inability Hitomi decided to speak, "Sian, I know you feel guilty for my parents death and for the destruction of your villages,…. but you did all you could and should not--"
Quickly the green maiden interrupted, "My queen, I know you are my friend and do not wish to see me in guilt for untruth, but I am fully responsible for the lives lost at that battle…."
Shaking her head and making her bangs bounce over her eyes the seeress replied, "No, Sian, you are not."
"But I am!" the guardian responded more forcefully, "I was the land's protector and your family's. I took on the responsibility of that duty and when the time came for me to protect them I failed and they paid for it with their lives."
Sian again looked at the stone floor in utter shame and disgrace. Once again the poor guardian could not look her queen in the face. Hitomi allowed the woman to watch the floor as she whispered slowly, "Sian…. I believe no one would have been able to save my parents today…. Even if I was there I feel I would not have had enough power to stop them from falling into death…. I only know is that you are not responsible…."
Gradually the guardian lifted her face to her mistress as the seeress continued, "You were their protector and you did everything you could to stop them. You are blameless. What you did today was in hope that you could save them. You could only be blamed if you had turned around and ran leaving your people defenseless, but no you stayed and fought until you could fight no more. In my eyes you did everything a guardian could do and though a great deal of people were lost today I will never accuse you of failing those people…."
Tears sparkled in the ancient warrior's eyes and silver droplets slipped down Sian's cheeks as she whispered, "Thank you…."
~~~Unknown Void~~~
The red devil roared in frustration as he again threw himself against the sealed opening. Once again the seal was still and silence as though it were secretly laughing at Akuma's attempts to escape the inevitable dungeon. Fangs bared in an angry snarl the Demon King rallied what was left of his powers to form a small sphere of red light. Letting the ball of power grow until it became as large as a bowling ball the scarlet figure threw the item with full force at the opening before him. The ball of power merely hissed into nothing as it came into contact of the seal leaving the passage untouched. The demon swore dozens of curses in several different tongues as he glared at the one thing that held him in the dark void of confinement.
Nearby floated the golden form of the powerful god, Joutei. Though is body was of burning yellow flames making his physical features hazy you could see him staring at the Underworld King with little interest. Off in the vast blackness flew souls of Hell and Heaven looking for ways out. Only the King of the Universe was still and sullen. His golden form continual watched his fellow immortal ram himself countless times against the doorway that led to their freedom.
After growing so outrageously frustrated the red beast snapped his eyes back at his superior and growled, "Are you trying to mock me, Joutei?! As you stand there in this infernal realm do you try to mock me?!"
Wisely the king replied, "How do I mock you as you so accuse?"
Burning heat coursed through the demon's body and Akuma could barely control his fury as he hissed with shocking control, "You stand there as though our situation is nothing…. Do you enjoy watching me fail?! Do you let me continue my attacks on this seal just for your amusement?!…. If so, Advocate, then I will--"
"You will what, Akuma?" asked the powerful being in a calm and placid voice, "Your powers have been stolen while mine are nearly completely intact… Do you dare challenge me when you know very well the gruesome outcome of what you start?"
The Devil glared at his adversary knowing full well that his fellow immortal was correct. Baring his fangs the red demon growled, "If you are so powerful, Joutei, than why do you stand there as though nothing is wrong?…. Do you not wish to escape this crude, but effective prison?…."
Nodding slightly the man of gold fire answered, "Of course, my friend, but I can not open the seal any better than you can…."
Infuriated the demon cried, "Bulls--"
"Do not speak such words in my presence, Akuma!" Joutei roared with deep authority. The being seemed to glow a little brighter from his outburst.
Aggravated with the hold the being held over him the scarlet being recoiled and snarled at the Supreme Being, "Then answer me, Joutei. Tell me the true reason why you allow all this to occur…. Do not hold your tongue! Answer me!"
Silence came from the golden flame god sending Akuma into an angry fit. The red devil reared his head and roared angrily to the blackness screaming curses and foul things that only he, the Devil, would speak. The arrowhead tail swung through the air like a stinger and his claws dug into the shadows. Fangs sharper than diamonds clamped down on still air while hisses and curses flew from dark lips. After several moments of exertion Akuma quieted down and glared at the god.
With barely moving his lips Joutei said, "It is not time for me to reveal the answer to the question on which you ask, but I will tell you that my champion, if you may call her that, will complete an important task for me….."
Akuma started at this and his eyes of burning ciders stared at him silently for several moments. With a shocked cry the demon asked, "You are placing the future of the cosmos in the hands of a mortal?! You place faith in the same people who rejected you over hundreds of centuries ago?!"
Nodding Joutei gave a frank, "Yes…."
"You place your essence…. your power…. your future…. in the wench from the Mystic Moon?!" the Devil proclaimed still in shock, "WHY?! Why do you put your faith in someone who cannot do a task you deemed him or her to do?! Surely she will die before she will complete whatever you desire!"
Wisely the golden figure replied, "What if that is my wish, Akuma?"
Confused the demon stared at the ruler, "What do imply, Joutei?"
Standing still as he surveyed the void of darkness the god answered, "What if the seeress's death is what I wish?"
The demon frowned at the absurd question, "You, Joutei, would not condemn your own guardian…."
"Condemn?…. No…." Joutei murmured quietly more to himself than his fellow immortal, "But if she were to die I can do nothing…. for as long as the task is completed the death of her is irrelevant…. She will die in my name if needed, but I will not forsake her…. She will do it herself…."
~~~Fanelia~~~
With a groan the docking bay doors slowly opened revealing the inside of the large sail ship the 'Crusade'. The sun of the early morn yawned in disinterest at the large metal transportation as though the idea of it was rather crude. Standing in the sunlight streaming into the opening stood a trio of men. A blonde knight in a royal blue tunic with pearly sleeves and sword at his side stood behind two young teenage boys, who were now considered men. The two young adults were very similar to each other. Both were of noble birth which you could see from the country emblem's adorned on their richly dressed vests. Their hair was cut short and well trimmed while swords barely mastered hung loosely at their royal sides.
The first lad had sun drop hair and was crowned by a golden circlet. His eyes were of the summer skies and his vest that fell to his knees matched his sparkling jeweled eyes perfectly with gold trimming it. Beneath his vest he wore a long white-sleeved shirt that was tucked away into brown leather gloves. Cream pants were also tucked away in the same fashion in the young man's knee boots of matching brown leather. A golden sash trimmed in royal blue thread was snugly wrapped around his waist almost completely covering the mud leather belt that held his exquisite scarab and sword. On his vest, sash, scarab, and hilt of his sword were the identical emblems of the country Freid marking his origin.
Next to him was a lad of rich chocolate strains that fell over his chestnut eyes repeatedly. An identical circlet like the prior man's dressed his silky locks also making it known his position in society. Though he was dressed in the same exact outfit as his fellow noble he wore a forest green vest with gold trimmings and a golden sash with green trimmings. The emblem he proudly showed on his attire was not the same either for it was an ancient marking not often seen around Gaea. It was the crest of the Draconian race.
With a proud stride the three men walked down from the docking bay doors and headed towards the front entrance of the large stone castle that stood before them. At the doorway already stood a welcoming group. At the head stood the King of Fanelia with Advisor Merle and Guardian Sian flanking his shoulders. Behind them stood the royal family of Austuria with their new babe held tightly in its mother's arms. Standing on her own near the very rear of the welcoming group stood the proud soldier of Freid, Celena.
As the new arrivals grew closer to the group shock faces were exchanged from both sides. Fanelia had been expecting only Prince Mamoru to be arriving that day on the 'Crusade' yet here came the King of Freid and his personal bodyguard, Sir Allen Schezard. What startled the arrivals was that Lady Celena and Guardian Sian stood amongst the group when they were suppose to be days away in a distant land. Ignoring the surprises King Chid stepped towards his dear friends and shook hands with his fellow kings.
"King Chid" replied Van in the tongue of a royal, "I welcome you and Sir Allen to Fanelia."
"I thank you, King Van" the young man replied in all nobility, "I did not mean to come unannounced, but word had reached me that Queen Hitomi, along with many of citizens of Fanelia, were victims in a horrible accident two days ago."
Sighing tiredly the raven headed king said, "Word travel quickly these days, but I am afraid the matter has grown far beyond a small accident."
Agitated with the wasted time of exchanging noble words the brunette youth stepped forward disturbing the conversation, "Excuse my interruption, but what of my sister?"
Van turned to the young man and could see the sparks of concerns glittering in the boy's eyes. Trying his best not to show anything about the youth's parents' death the young king replied in a strong voice, "She is resting in our chambers. She wanted me to tell you that she wishes to speak with you as soon as possible."
Nodding quickly the young boy brushed past the group of friends saying a silent 'excuse me' on his way to his sister's side. The group watched the youth leave before anyone dared to speak. Chid looked up into the White Dragon's eyes and asked in the voice of a friend, "What's going on, Van?"
With a heavy sigh the king muttered, "There is a lot to discuss, but we will only speak of it after midday for it is Hitomi's wish. She wanted to speak to her brother first."
The blonde youth glanced around the group and felt an uneasy feeling gripped his heart. He noticed his father talking with his aunt and took note of how the woman looked like she had been in a fight. Taking a glance towards the angel guardian the young man felt her appearance was part of a grave situation. Something was going on…. Looking at his royal aunt with her husband he could see the worry look in her eyes of the same blue of his own. Something terrible was going on….
Mamoru stepped in front of the large oak double doors and nodded to the guards there to let him in. Swiftly the wooden entrance was open for the royal revealing a beautiful room decorated in light blue and cream marble with handcraft furniture and large vases of foreign flowers placed in different parts of the room. Even though the area was filled with beauty and glory a dark feeling of sorrow that radiated from its back room overshadowed it. With nervous steps the young boy stepped through the sitting room and passed through the open door that led into his sister's royal bedroom. The sun streamed from the open windows allowing the wind to play with the gentle wisp of the curtains framing the giant openings. On a bed of beautiful cream material laid his dear sister sitting up against many of the pillows that were placed on her bed.
Hitomi was dressed in a long sleeve nightgown of plain white that made her pale skin mingle with the coloration of her attire. Her red teardrop pendant laid lazily against her chest coming just below her v-shaped collar. The seeress's emerald eyes were dull from the stress of the prior days and thus it made the boy concern. She seemed paler than usually and from the way her face looked it appeared she had some unwelcoming information. He had felt something was wrong when he had noticed the woman in green and the knight's sister at his arrival. He did not know the woman dressed in the emerald color, but he thought Lady Celena was far away in a distant land. The disturbing fact of the soldier's presence did not settle on his mind well.
It was then Mamoru noticed the familiar bodyguard of the resting queen standing beside the bed. Resshi seemed to be in strange disposition being that he rarely entered the queen's quarters unless there was concern. Hitomi waved her guard away and for a moment the prince almost thought the general was going to disobey the order, but after a bit of hesitation the brunette man left the room and closed the door behind him to give the two siblings some privacy.
There was an awkward silence between the two relatives. Both stared back at each other neither truly knowing what to say. Hitomi could feel the sadness falling over her again and she could sense the tears coming, but she forced them back knowing it wasn't the time. Taking a deep breath the young woman whispered, "Please, come sit down beside me, Mamoru…."
Slowly the boy made his way to the foot of the bed and sat down on the soft comforter making his clothes rustle. Quietly he stared back at his older sister and asked, "Are you alright, Hito?"
The familiar nickname almost brought tears again to the seeress's eyes, but luckily she was able to again blink them back, "I will be fine, but that is not what I want to talk to you about…. It deals with mom and dad…."
A sudden chill ran down the boy's spine and he felt a ghastly hand gripped his heart. The dark foreshadowing played on his soul and he stared intently into his older sister's eyes of emeralds imploring the unknown, "What's going on? What happened?"
Taking another breath of air to steady herself the young queen began, "There was a battle in the village where mom and dad were staying… A lot of people were killed, but luckily mom was able to save the remaining survivors of the villages… Sian, well the woman in green you probably have already seen, was the guardian there. She and Celena barely made it out with their lives…"
It was plain to both siblings that the issue dealing with their parents was being skipped over and though the brown headed youth was not eager to ask the question he asked in a voice filled with dread, "They didn't make it back though,…. did they?…."
Hitomi felt the tears slip down her cheeks and felt the self-control in her escape her hold finally. Unable to speak the woman shook her head confirming his accusation. The boy flung his arms around his sister's neck and shuddered as a sob escaped his throat. Somehow he had known that something had happened to his parents. He did not know how he knew; he had just known. Perhaps his powers were developing and he was slowly becoming aware of his abilities, but for now that is to be laid aside. Clutching each other close for comfort the two family members cried endless tears for their parents. Both felt lost and now alone without the two people they had forever been dependent on. Though their lives had finally weaned them away from their parents' side they were never severed from the relationship held between them. No one could do that to such a firm bond. Their hearts were shattered and the pieces were so small that you could have fit them through the eye of a needle. Then those shattered remains would fall and twinkle into the night become stars to mark the death of their love ones. Sorrow poured forth and their mourning was not leashed for it needed to be let out. To cry is far better than holding it in and letting it torture you to death. So they cried… and cried… and cried until there were no more tears to shed… Though the tears could no longer fall the sorrow continued to dwell in the two siblings' hearts and so they continued to cling to one another…
Hitomi held her brother like she would her own child and felt a sense of motherhood in the effect. In all sense she was a mother to her younger brother. They had been brother and sister, yes, but in a way it was more than that. Perhaps she wasn't considered fully a mother to him by either of their standards, but she had taken on a similar role… She had taken on the role of an older sister. She had been there for him when times were tough and the struggle hard. She had sacrificed her time just so she could spend it with him. When his life became turned upside down with their world's destruction she had been like one of the legs he stood upon. Now apart of him had collapsed. The leg that had been his parents had vanished and desperately he clung onto the only support he had… his sister… She was not his mother, but she was his friend… and from that they had grown closer… Yet at that moment when the truth was revealed before the young prince neither could comfort the other… It was a situation only they themselves could deal with individually…
~Tell me what you think of this chapter! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!~
~Maybe this was a boring chapter and shorter than prior chapters, but I had to stop it here or the chapter would have been twenty pages long and then it would have taken longer to post!!!~
~Next chapter should be out by Mon. or Tues. It would be sooner, but I got some cool Christmas presents I want to work with some of my days off from school. Sorry~