Timeless
Part Three: Fall of Black Feathers
"Thanks again, Moonbay. I can't begin to thank you enough for your troubles." Thomas smiled as he sat in the seat beside her. Moonbay just simply smiled and looked at the open road. Karl remained in the backseat, just kinda quiet and introverted. He stared out the window, letting a small sigh escape his lips. "He just keeps getting worse and worse." Thomas frowned, looking back at his older brother. "Sometimes on certain days, it's really hard for me to get him to even talk." Moonbay frowned as the Gustav took off, the Blade Liger and Lightning Saix tromped up beside them. "I didn't like how when he was released from the hospital from attempted suicide, the Empire put him right back where he was. In my opinion, it makes it seem that the Empire, even through peacetime, doesn't give one the time to grieve fully. And that may be what's tearing Karl apart at the seams... because he never grieved for Leon in his own special way." "But Karl blames himself for things that were beyond his control..." "It's a common grief response." Moonbay smild at Thomas, then turned her attention on the open road. "It just goes to show one thing..." "Yes?" "That Karl Lichen Schubaltz is human after all..." The Gustav, Blade Liger and Lightning Saix drudged through the desert as the sun above them burned so high. At the same time, under the same sun, Belle tromped to a large well and dove her head in, opening her canopy slightly to let water in. She lifted her head out of the well, the canopy opened to reveal the cockpit was full of water. Leon surfaced for air and shook his head like a wet dog, then gargled and spat. "You could have told me I needed a bath, Belle." Leon looked at Belle as the whole cockpit emptied of water. Sorry, sugah... but ya looked like a baby when ya slept and now that y'all awake... "Forgiven. I can't stay mad at a lovely lady forever." Leon smirked, putting his wet hair in a ponytail. Don't we just sound like a Don Juan? Belle chuckled, the canopy closed and Leon was strapped in. They continued to tromp through the endless hills of sand. How do ya feel, Leon? "Much better." Leon answered, staring out through the red screen. "Belle, I think we need to turn a certain direction." Why's that? "...the vultures. They're very active over there, that's a sign of many deaths..." Leon's violet eyes narrowed, his expression grim. You got it! Belle kicked the boosters up and ripped toward the circle of vultures.
"Van..." Irvine woke everyone up when he called out in total surprise. "Look up." From the Blade Liger, Van looked up with his dark eyes and blinked. "Vultures." "That's not all, Van. They are right over us." Irvine frowned, his expression bleak and morose. "And they have been for a while now." "They sense death." Thomas was observing as well, his green eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Or the fast approach of death. Vultures won't hang around like this unless they sense that someone is going to meet a quick demise in a very short time span." Moonbay looked back at their intended cargo, Karl was still sitting up in his seat, staring at the path ahead of them. His feline-like green eyes, in their strain to remain awake, suddenly sprang to life as a cold, grim premonition washed over his mind's eye. Karl blinked and shook his head, drenched in a cold sweat. "Van!! Get out of the way now!!!" "Colonel!?" "DO IT!" Van went to strafe when a particle beam narrowly missed incinerating the Blade Liger. "WHOA!!!" "WHAT THE HELL!?" Thomas sat up from his seat as their assailant came into view. "I-it's Raven!!!" The Geno Breaker stood on a sand dune, the sunset reflecting on its' red armor. Raven smirked his cocky smirk and ran his fingers through his black hair like so. "I must really commend you, Colonel Schubaltz... now that your magic-casting fuck toy is no longer by your side, you gained precognition of your own device..." "...." Karl's eyes narrowed, he snarled as his hands tightened and white-knuckled. "Raven! You bastard!" Van and Irvine shielded the Gustav with their zoids. "How dare you!? Attack us while we're down...!!" "It's the only way I can assure an easy victory and to get you all out of my hair once and for all." Raven grinned, then dove at them with the Geno Breaker. The T-Rex zoid slapped the Lightning Saix with the claw-shield and sent Irvine flying into the sand. Next, he zapped Van into the sand with some missiles, but Raven turned his attention on the Gustav. "....Damn it....!" Thomas snarled, now in the backseat, shielding his brother. "WE NEED A MIRACLE!!!" The Geno Breaker grabbed the Gustav and with incredible strength, he flipped it over onto its' side. Moonbay and the brothers braced for impact, the canopy flew open and the three tumbled out. Karl tried very desperately to stand, crying to the heavens in pain as hot tears poured down his cheeks. Raven smirked and went to stomp them when he was blasted from the side by a powerful force. The Geno Breaker turned to face their new adversary, that was when Raven first got glimpse of the Berserk Fury's silhouette on the sunset sand dune. "Step on them, Raven.... and I'll make you fish them out from the depths of Hell...." Leon's voice sounded, causing everyone to stir. "Aethelwulf!?!?!" Raven's eyes widened, his jaw dropped. "You're.... you're...." "I was dead. But I got better." Leon smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Oh how I SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO longed for the moment to smack the pretty offa your face... and you don't have Minister Mop-Head to back you up... think you can survive 50 rounds with me, kiddo?" "I'll send you back to Hell..." Raven smirked, but before he could move, he was headrammed by the Berserk Fury and sent flying backward into the sand. "AUGH!!!" "Did I neglect to tell you that my familiar too, likes Karl?" "THAT WAS A DIRTY TRICK!!" Raven snarled, and dove at the Berserk Fury. Belle opened her left buster claw and got the Geno Breaker in a choke hold, she boxed the Geno Breaker with the butt of the second buster claw, after she was finished, she tossed the Geno Breaker to the side. Now both buster claws were out and extended, Belle roared a dirge to the damned. "....frankily, Raven... I once pitied you because of Prozen's cruelty and hatred and how it stuck on to you and imprinted you to be the same. But today... here and now... there is no excuse for it. The worst thing in my long life that I cannot simply tolerate is the feeling of having my feelings and notions misplaced...." Leon was now in front of the Gustav, Blade Liger and Lightning Saix. "Get over yourself." Raven got up out of the sand and smirked, his eyes cold and unyielding. Lightning flashed before them, causing Raven to look around in surprise. "Do you know why vultures circle when there is going to be deaths...?" Leon's voice was monotone and without pity. "Vultures are one of the most potent forms in existence... to measure out the lifespan of one who is going to die. Where magic fails and buckles to the winds of time, their insight rules supreme..." "I know the story behind vultures, Aethelwulf..." Raven grinned, the Geno Breaker getting into position. "...you don't know the full story, Raven. They're here for YOU." "...!!!!!!" Raven's eyes widened, for a split second in his viewscreen, Leon took on a new form. "...you.... you are not human.... has... has the Devil come to collect his dues?? H-has the Devil come for me??" "...." The Berserk Fury got into stance to fire her particle beam, the Geno Breaker doing the same. "I AM NO GOING TO LET THE DEVIL TAKE ME!!!!" Raven went into hysterics, his hands gripped the controls tightly. He broke into a cold sweat, Raven screamed in terror. For the first time.... he knew fear. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, time has suddenly seemed to stop around them. Leon remained calm and collected as Raven freaked out in his Geno Breaker. They both fired the particle guns simultaniously, but the Berserk Fury's stream tore right through Raven's and engulfed the Geno Breaker in its' own. "AAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH------!!!!!" "...Devil never cry, Raven. Devil never cry." A lone claw shield was all that remained of the Geno Breaker, Belle went out of stance and roared in triumph, kicking the ground behind her in a stomp of victory. The buster claws went back into non-combat mode. The canopy opened and Leon jumped up, taking three steps toward the overturned Gustav. Karl opened his eyes to the wonderful surprise, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Thomas smiled with joy upon seeing Leon's handsome face again. With incredibly shaky legs, Karl staggered up onto his feet. His younger brother rushed for his side, but Karl shook his head politely and carefully took his first step. Staggering, his legs very shaky and unstable, his steps were slow and uneven... but Karl continued toward Leon. 3/4 of the way there, the handsome Imperial colonel reached for his immortal lover, taking another shaky step. Leon smiled peacefully and joyfully, his arms extended, waiting for Karl to fall into them. Thomas, Van, and Moonbay watched in surprise as Karl triumphantlly reached his intended destination by himself. They embraced the other in warm, loving and hungry arms, blood tears fell down Leon's cheeks. Warm, salty tears streaked down Karl's dirty cheeks as well, his cheek on Leon's shoulder. "I'm sorry, kitten.... for ever doubting you and your love..." "Don't talk." Karl held Leon tightly, unable to let go. "You're home.... with me.... that's all that really matters." "Home..." Leon spoke softly, his lips touched Karl's tear-soaked cheek. "I am home.... and there is no place I'd rather be..." "Welcome home, Leon..." Karl smiled before their lips cuffed over the other's.
--Continued--