Authoresses Note: I am so lucky to have such a supportive and faithful
audience that gives me such praise beyond deserve! Please guys, don't stop
sending me those good words my way if they're your honest opinion, because
you have no idea what such a complete high it is to feel like you're really
good at your 'passion', which is exactly how I feel whenever you guys
review this fic. And it especially feels great when you get repeat
reviewers, because it means somebody cares enough about this fic to stick
with it for the - four? five? - months it's been up. I am so glad to have
not met any Simon Cowells on ff.net - who should shut up because he has no
actual talent himself anyway besides crushing people's dreams, which is
something any loser can do! All I know is if I somebody told me that my
writing lacked that special 'it' and would never make it in the mainstream
I don't know what I would do with myself....yeah, he stinks. Enjoy part
seven of my ficcy!
***Part Seven of Forbidden: A Moment In A Bottle ***
"Who are you?" Lafarga demanded. Miles away from the spot where the two brothers Ascot and Nori battled it out with Prince Ferio and Magic Knight Fuu as an audience, and totally unknowing of these events, Lafarga stood, with a woman before him with a mind for names she had no business knowing.
He had his sword drawn out within a fraction of a moment, taking a defensive position. Any fatigue left over from his tiring work of carrying the other snoozing three had been forgotten in the midst of a warrior's apprehension for possible battle. Though he wasn't sure whether she was just an ordinary elder woman that happened to have extraordinary knowledge, or something on the more dangerous scale of enchantress or demon, the latter was a chance he was not willing to take and he thusly refused to let his guard down just because of her innocent (and ugly) looks. Plus, besides the fact that the Pillar Hikaru was a good friend, her strategic importance in this strange time had not been lost on him.
The old woman had allowed a smile that bordered on a smug smirk to spread across her craggy expression, stepping forward with a grace that contradicted her peasant clothes. "Lafarga, correct? It's good you should be so careful when dealing with the Pillar.' She'd paused. "Was it Clef that sent you to hunt for the Library?"
If the woman's naming of Clef had been meant to soothe Lafarga and promote a friendly image of her own persona, it failed drastically. The untrusting glint in Lafarga's eyes brightened and the grip on his sword tightened. "I warn you not to come a step closer."
"No, Lafarga."
Lafarga had not even noticed the lightened load upon his back, but there Hikaru was, moving so fast it caught both he and the woman by surprise, as she left his back and stood before the woman with such quiet study that Lafarga felt as if before him was a very different Hikaru then the one he was used to. He made no further move and merely watched, but his heart eased a little because he so trusted Hikaru's judgment. Comically, her upheaval had caused both Zazu and Gardina to fall to the ground softly, where they lay, snoozing gently away in the stupor of sleep that was very contradictory to the tenseness just a few feet away.
"The Pillar," The woman more breathed the words than spoke them.
Hikaru nodded slowly. "You said you know Clef?"
"Oh, all great sorcerers must have great teachers, you know." The woman looked Lafarga in the eye over Hikaru's shoulder, carefully turning her attention from the Pillar. "Clef was your teacher, correct Lafarga? You should understand such relationships."
Lafarga said nothing. Hikaru looked backwards at him and they exchanged glances, Hikaru finally then returning her gaze to the woman. "Do you know the way to the Celes Library?"
A nod from the old woman had signified Hikaru's correctness in that subtle accusation.
And then, to Lafarga and the old woman's surprise both, Hikaru lost her expression of quiet study and absolute seriousness, bursting into an impromptu smile that encompassed the entire length of her face and was, actually, a wonderful offspring of the strong heart that had been Hikaru's deciding factor in her battle for the role of Pillar. "Then, Miss - I'm sorry, what's your name? - would you please take us there, because as the former teacher of Clef you ought to know he wanted us to go there. And we're hopelessly lost, so we could use the help."
The woman had swept Hikaru another curtsy, smiled, and said enchantingly, "Refer to me as Madame Hugo, please, your Majesty. Of course I shall."
Thus they allowed Madame Hugo to lead them on.
It would be miles and hours before they would reach the towering feat of architecture that was the Celes Library, but the journey was entirely worth it. Meanwhile, the small group of Ferio, Fuu, Lantis and Eagle left the village without much ado (Nori felt no need to fight four skilled warriors, and without Nori's will or command the villagers did nothing), and arrived back fairly soon at the castle where Geo watched over the sleeping Clef and Presea. All that was left was for Umi and Ascot to arrive, for they did have a considerably longer distance to cross thanks to the distraction at Donpa's, and then they would try to put together the pieces of this mysterious puzzle.
Their first steps leaving the Forest of Silence behind was wonderful, like a weight was starting to elevate from their tired, aching backs. By a few yards the change was noticeable in how their eyes, previously teeming of subtle sadness, now brimmed with subtle joy.
"We did it," Ascot sighed the words, reaching up a hand to rub his aching temple, stopping where he was in the knee-high grass and sending the Forest behind a glance that was more like a glare than anything else, "It was even darker there than out here."
Umi nodded as she came up shoulder-to-shoulder with him. "The trees cast shadows." She scowled. "And I was so defenseless in there, not being able to summon Celes or anything! Those stupid Sheki, I almost wish I had them out here so I could fight 'em fair and square!"
Ascot said nothing, his expression uncharacteristically turning solemn.
For a moment he merely stared at the Forest behind him, as if the ghosts of his past left there would come screeching after him. Umi, totally unaware that Ascot even had ghosts of his past, frowned at his sudden lapse, and, wanting to bring him back to the smiling self that she was falling love with, did the one thing that she knew would without a doubt get his attention - she reached up and grabbed his hat, ducking his grasp as his instant response was to try and grab it back, running ahead and then stopping suddenly, waving it tauntingly in front of him.
Grinning sheepishly and blushing a deep red, Ascot uncomfortably felt the tuft of reddish hair that was left exposed. "Umi - "
"Umi nothing! If you want it back, you're going to have to get it back!"
Both of them felt the sort of dizzy relief that comes from overcoming a great obstacle, but neither could they elude the anxious apprehension of more obstacles to come, some of which they could not deny may be ever greater and more horrible than their last. That feeling of confusion had been from what Ascot's words of 'Let me protect you' had, in essence, stemmed from - it was that feeling of self-determination to not be helpless that had inspired Umi's retort of, 'Only if you promise to let me protect you too, and we can protect each other'. They made that promise a million times that day, in the seemingly endless meadow that lay between the Forest and the castle, a million times without vocalization, as inexplicable as the eternal night that blanketed the sky but much more pleasant and treasured and important.
So he gave chase through the expanse of endless grass and was, in the end, ultimately faster than her, knocking her down carefully and making a grab at it on the ground. She whisked it away and a sort of impromptu wrestling match ensued.
Again, the end result had Ascot lying on top of Umi. Again, caught in the frenzy of the moment and the absolute beauty that lay under him on the grass, her with her lovely eyes looking into his own, her with her long hair sprawled on the grass around her head like a crown - he lent down and kissed her on the lips, and this time did not discontinue it for any shady insecurity of the mind.
She kissed back, and when they parted from that one they lapsed into another, Umi moving her torso up against his, the distinct curves of their bodies fitting perfectly together, the closeness sending a surge of inexplicable yet vital joy - this moment was precious, it could never be repeated, so it was a horrible crime, a horrible crime and sin that it wasn't possible to just catch it forever, catch it up in a bottle - Ascot cupped the back of Umi's neck in his hands, massaging the pearly smoothness of her skin, gave her a last kiss, and then sat up again.
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable," He said, studying her for her reaction.
She blinked. And then broke out into a smile. "No, it's okay. I mean, I don't really want to go any further." There was a little nervous chuckle. "I'm still a student. But here, you can lie down here. Beside me. Let's just rest for a moment, okay? Together."
Not even noticing that she still held the hat in her hands, Ascot obliged, and the two of them lay side by side hand in hand, gazing up quietly at the sky that reeked of night even though it may have very well been mid-day.
Umi rolled over onto her side and lay her head down on his chest, using it for a pillow, as it was much more comfortable than the spiky grass. "Hey, Ascot?"
"Hey."
"I've got a question."
Questions, questions. Life stunk of questions and lacked answers. "Okay."
"How'd you do it?"
"Do what?"
I could answer so many different things to that, Umi realized. "How'd you find those stupid Sheki's?"
For some reason, Ascot went quiet and sullen again, falling into such a lapse that Umi was disturbed and worried. "I know the area well." He answered flatly.
"There you go again."
"Go what?"
The grass stirred gently as she sat up, sending him a studying look downwards. "Something's bothering you. Alcione didn't hurt you more than we know, did she?"
Ascot chuckled. "She wishes she could. No, I'm fine. Just thinking."
"That's what's different about you." Her teasing choice of vocabulary undermined her serious tone and expression. "All that thinking."
"Umi, why do you think the Sheki grabbed you, Ferio, and all the rest? What were they aiming for? The Pillar, right?"
She shrugged carelessly, which was an ironic gesture since she cared about everything at that very moment. "I'm not a Sheki. Go ask one."
He snorted. "Yeah. Sure. And then he'd stab me in the back."
"What?"
"My brother."
Shock was in so much pure absolution right then that Umi, for once, didn't have a single retort for Ascot as he clarified that yes, he had a brother. Ascot was Sheki, Palu Sheki. He had a brother that was a Palu Sheki named Nori, and Nori. "He's sort of drastic," Ascot said for a description.
"So that's what's bothering you. God, I never even thought that you might have a brother. I guess 'cause I'm an only child I sometimes feel like everyone's like me. I should know from Hikaru and Fuu's experience though. So, did you work things out with him?"
Ascot couldn't resist the smirk that was the offspring of knowledge that spread across his face. "You don't really work things out with Nori, Umi. He always has this urge to control everything around him."
She frowned and crossed her arms, annoyance at the complicated emotions that fate always transpired to haunt the ones she cared about. "But surely he doesn't want Cephiro's destruction!"
"I don't know -what- the hell it is he wants."
"Oh. Been away from him that long, huh?" Pity showed in Umi's expression.
The pain of memories and ghosts reborn hurt, so Ascot closed his eyes in a futile effort to escape as much as he could from the world around him. Hard thought showed in the furrowing of his brow. "No. I guess I do know. Though I have no clue what that has to do with the Pillar."
Umi's immediate reply mirrored truth. "Everything has to do with the Pillar."
"Yeah."
A pause. Then, "I guess he wants war."
"War? With the Pillar? Why?"
"Not the Pillar. War with the Jova Tribe."
"Another tribe?"
'Nori! Nori, wait up! Where are you going?'
'Out.'
'Out where?'
'Do you ever stop with the senseless questions, Ascot?'
'No.'
'......'
'Is something wrong? Heeeeelllllooooo???? Are you listening to me? WAKE UP!'
'Ascot. Just wait a second.'
'Why? It's boring.'
'The Pillar's abandoned us. You should show more care.'
'Nori......are you crying? What's wrong? Say, where's Miiko?'
'........'
'Ascot, do you know what happens when the Pillar abandons her people?'
'Uh.......'
'It's called war.'
'War?'
'Yes. War is a very sad thing, Ascot. We lost Miiko to war.'
Umi stood slowly, raising her blue eyes to the blackened heavens. A quiet breeze passed through, whisking her long hair into a face for a moment, and then correcting the problem as another thrall of wind came through. "I see. When the Pillar, who prays for abundance and peace in Cephiro is no longer able to continue her duty, and when things become imperfect and there is no absolute happiness, people return to wars and fighting over things. Right?"
Ascot nodded. "Miiko was our sister. I was very young at the time so it was easier for me. But for Nori...... Miiko was his twin sister. It was not so easy for him." A sigh. "He'll try to take advantage of people's torn hearts and direct the Sheki's aggravation at the Jova tribe that killed her. He is........very vengeful."
Silence existed through the peaceful stretch of meadow. Then, "Ascot, do you know where this Jova tribe is?"
Ascot blinked. "Ummmmmm....... Yeah."
She turned to face him quickly, almost startlingly so, her hair and her skirt swaying with her. "Take me there."
"What?"
"Take me there. We have to talk this out with them."
Ascot's surprise translated into a very blank and confused look that he gave Umi.
"Look, for you, war is rare. But on Earth - in my world - there are always wars going on, and there are always people like Miiko. We can't," She sighed and took a deep breath, "Miiko will be the last, if I have anything to say about it. And trust me, I intend to say a lot to these Jova folk."
He did trust her. And it was because he trusted her and her intent that he obliged.
Civil war had racked Eagle's country for two years nearly four decades ago. The history of Autozam's poisoned land, however, was the farthest thing from mind as he roamed the halls of Cephiro's palace. No, his mind dwelt primarily on the history of Cephiro, the country of the Pillar and the country that was Lantis' origination. Watching the drama that unfolded with the denizens of this strange yet wonderful land during that last odd adventure had been - a learning experience, if anything.
He'd seen Clef in the pain of complicated magic and understood his even more complicated relationship with the artisan Presea. He'd watched as Ferio had challenged the Sheki tribesmen known as Nori, Nori's crack about his sister's 'psychotic episode' infuriating him on. He'd then learned that Nori and Ascot shared a bond of blood, as physical appearance and attire had hinted, and learned that it was more than not a relationship of bad blood as well.
And after all that, the only thing he could think was that he wanted to see Lantis, now that it had passed and they could breathe a sigh of relief, even if it was questionable whether or not this was the calm after the storm or before the storm. So he searched, but the intricate weaving of halls inside the palace only proved confusing. Instead of finding Lantis' company, he found Geo as his cheerful comrade suddenly left a room a few doors down from himself.
"'Lo Eagle! Clef's in there. Presea just woke up and I was showing her where he was. What happened anyway, that they both got so wiped like that?"
"Oh, hey Geo. I'm not totally sure. Ferio or Fuu might know."
Geo blinked at this. "Eh, okay. Well, things were mostly boring here."
Eagle smiled; boring was good. He vocalized this. "And I'm thankful."
"Except......"
"Except?"
Eagle had continued walking straight, but he now stopped before Geo, raising an eyebrow to demonstrate his confusion to the inclusion of 'except'. Geo merely offered him a thoughtful frown, nervously combing his hands through his spiky hair. "I'm not sure if this is really the place or the time, Eagle. It's kind of private for you."
"But you know it."
"It's private for Autozam foreigners." A nervous chuckle. "Zazu's missing out. Man, I hope that little fella's okay. You know how he is."
An attempt to divert the conversation? "Yeah. So when will I see this private information?"
"Hmm." The frown on Geo's expression held more of a thoughtful, whimsical air than ever. "I'm going to probably drop by later tonight. Or morning. I'm going to have to take a look at Fuu's watch-thing-a-mig-jig 'cause I don't know what the hell time it is, heh. Is that alright?"
It was.
"So where you going anyway?"
"I'm not sure. Do you know where Lantis is?"
For the slightest fraction of a moment, Geo's expression contained an inexplicable emotion, a fleeting thing that, despite Eagle's years with the man, he could not decode and partially did not want to decode. Then it passed, and Geo answered cheerfully, "Yeah, I think I saw him in his brother's room."
The meaning in the fact that it was his brother's room and nowhere else was not lost on either of them, so Geo let Eagle go without a word, except maybe urging him on. Eagle thought he heard Geo say something like, "He needs you even if he won't admit it," but he wasn't sure about it.
When Eagle got there, Lantis sat in his brother's room on his brother's bed holding a sword of his brothers. That irony did not escape Eagle, but neither did he feel that Lantis was mourning - Lantis, he felt, had done that before and had gotten all of it out that he would ever let another human see. No, this time it was more of a whimsical wondering look that befell Lantis' expression and demeanor.
Lantis looked up as Eagle's footsteps gave away his entrance. Eagle offered him a gentle smile, and, without a word spoken between them because this was just one of those moments when speaking is one of the silliest and most trivial things in the world, took a seat on the bed by Lantis.
"Your brother was good at sword-play?"
Lantis chuckled. It was a rare thing, but always beautiful and important when it happened. "No. My brother was actually very prone to clumsiness that doesn't work with swords. That's the part no one ever saw, his clumsiness, because he seemed so poised in stature."
Eagle met the story with a smile. "But he had swords. This is one, right?"
"Yes."
It was definitely a sword of superior make, Eagle decided as he studied it further. Black on the hilt - a little odd, because as Priest Zagato Eagle had always thought his garb to be white (Eagle had always thought wrong about that but this didn't trivialize his subtle surprise any less) - and with quite the fang to accompany it, it was not to be mistaken for anything less than noble.
"Presea made it." Lantis continued. "And Clef charmed it."
"Charmed it?"
"Yes, a very peculiar but very important charm for a Head Priest to have."
As Lantis offered it to him, Eagle took it, admiring how lightweight it was. He fingered the hilt and gave the blade a little swish through the air, careful about Lantis head as he did it. "Being?"
"It glows when the Pillar is in trouble."
Sometimes very ironic things happen.
Like right then, as Eagle held the sword out to Lantis for him to take back.
There was a strange little humming sound, and the metal crisped into a golden glow.
***Part Seven of Forbidden: A Moment In A Bottle ***
"Who are you?" Lafarga demanded. Miles away from the spot where the two brothers Ascot and Nori battled it out with Prince Ferio and Magic Knight Fuu as an audience, and totally unknowing of these events, Lafarga stood, with a woman before him with a mind for names she had no business knowing.
He had his sword drawn out within a fraction of a moment, taking a defensive position. Any fatigue left over from his tiring work of carrying the other snoozing three had been forgotten in the midst of a warrior's apprehension for possible battle. Though he wasn't sure whether she was just an ordinary elder woman that happened to have extraordinary knowledge, or something on the more dangerous scale of enchantress or demon, the latter was a chance he was not willing to take and he thusly refused to let his guard down just because of her innocent (and ugly) looks. Plus, besides the fact that the Pillar Hikaru was a good friend, her strategic importance in this strange time had not been lost on him.
The old woman had allowed a smile that bordered on a smug smirk to spread across her craggy expression, stepping forward with a grace that contradicted her peasant clothes. "Lafarga, correct? It's good you should be so careful when dealing with the Pillar.' She'd paused. "Was it Clef that sent you to hunt for the Library?"
If the woman's naming of Clef had been meant to soothe Lafarga and promote a friendly image of her own persona, it failed drastically. The untrusting glint in Lafarga's eyes brightened and the grip on his sword tightened. "I warn you not to come a step closer."
"No, Lafarga."
Lafarga had not even noticed the lightened load upon his back, but there Hikaru was, moving so fast it caught both he and the woman by surprise, as she left his back and stood before the woman with such quiet study that Lafarga felt as if before him was a very different Hikaru then the one he was used to. He made no further move and merely watched, but his heart eased a little because he so trusted Hikaru's judgment. Comically, her upheaval had caused both Zazu and Gardina to fall to the ground softly, where they lay, snoozing gently away in the stupor of sleep that was very contradictory to the tenseness just a few feet away.
"The Pillar," The woman more breathed the words than spoke them.
Hikaru nodded slowly. "You said you know Clef?"
"Oh, all great sorcerers must have great teachers, you know." The woman looked Lafarga in the eye over Hikaru's shoulder, carefully turning her attention from the Pillar. "Clef was your teacher, correct Lafarga? You should understand such relationships."
Lafarga said nothing. Hikaru looked backwards at him and they exchanged glances, Hikaru finally then returning her gaze to the woman. "Do you know the way to the Celes Library?"
A nod from the old woman had signified Hikaru's correctness in that subtle accusation.
And then, to Lafarga and the old woman's surprise both, Hikaru lost her expression of quiet study and absolute seriousness, bursting into an impromptu smile that encompassed the entire length of her face and was, actually, a wonderful offspring of the strong heart that had been Hikaru's deciding factor in her battle for the role of Pillar. "Then, Miss - I'm sorry, what's your name? - would you please take us there, because as the former teacher of Clef you ought to know he wanted us to go there. And we're hopelessly lost, so we could use the help."
The woman had swept Hikaru another curtsy, smiled, and said enchantingly, "Refer to me as Madame Hugo, please, your Majesty. Of course I shall."
Thus they allowed Madame Hugo to lead them on.
It would be miles and hours before they would reach the towering feat of architecture that was the Celes Library, but the journey was entirely worth it. Meanwhile, the small group of Ferio, Fuu, Lantis and Eagle left the village without much ado (Nori felt no need to fight four skilled warriors, and without Nori's will or command the villagers did nothing), and arrived back fairly soon at the castle where Geo watched over the sleeping Clef and Presea. All that was left was for Umi and Ascot to arrive, for they did have a considerably longer distance to cross thanks to the distraction at Donpa's, and then they would try to put together the pieces of this mysterious puzzle.
Their first steps leaving the Forest of Silence behind was wonderful, like a weight was starting to elevate from their tired, aching backs. By a few yards the change was noticeable in how their eyes, previously teeming of subtle sadness, now brimmed with subtle joy.
"We did it," Ascot sighed the words, reaching up a hand to rub his aching temple, stopping where he was in the knee-high grass and sending the Forest behind a glance that was more like a glare than anything else, "It was even darker there than out here."
Umi nodded as she came up shoulder-to-shoulder with him. "The trees cast shadows." She scowled. "And I was so defenseless in there, not being able to summon Celes or anything! Those stupid Sheki, I almost wish I had them out here so I could fight 'em fair and square!"
Ascot said nothing, his expression uncharacteristically turning solemn.
For a moment he merely stared at the Forest behind him, as if the ghosts of his past left there would come screeching after him. Umi, totally unaware that Ascot even had ghosts of his past, frowned at his sudden lapse, and, wanting to bring him back to the smiling self that she was falling love with, did the one thing that she knew would without a doubt get his attention - she reached up and grabbed his hat, ducking his grasp as his instant response was to try and grab it back, running ahead and then stopping suddenly, waving it tauntingly in front of him.
Grinning sheepishly and blushing a deep red, Ascot uncomfortably felt the tuft of reddish hair that was left exposed. "Umi - "
"Umi nothing! If you want it back, you're going to have to get it back!"
Both of them felt the sort of dizzy relief that comes from overcoming a great obstacle, but neither could they elude the anxious apprehension of more obstacles to come, some of which they could not deny may be ever greater and more horrible than their last. That feeling of confusion had been from what Ascot's words of 'Let me protect you' had, in essence, stemmed from - it was that feeling of self-determination to not be helpless that had inspired Umi's retort of, 'Only if you promise to let me protect you too, and we can protect each other'. They made that promise a million times that day, in the seemingly endless meadow that lay between the Forest and the castle, a million times without vocalization, as inexplicable as the eternal night that blanketed the sky but much more pleasant and treasured and important.
So he gave chase through the expanse of endless grass and was, in the end, ultimately faster than her, knocking her down carefully and making a grab at it on the ground. She whisked it away and a sort of impromptu wrestling match ensued.
Again, the end result had Ascot lying on top of Umi. Again, caught in the frenzy of the moment and the absolute beauty that lay under him on the grass, her with her lovely eyes looking into his own, her with her long hair sprawled on the grass around her head like a crown - he lent down and kissed her on the lips, and this time did not discontinue it for any shady insecurity of the mind.
She kissed back, and when they parted from that one they lapsed into another, Umi moving her torso up against his, the distinct curves of their bodies fitting perfectly together, the closeness sending a surge of inexplicable yet vital joy - this moment was precious, it could never be repeated, so it was a horrible crime, a horrible crime and sin that it wasn't possible to just catch it forever, catch it up in a bottle - Ascot cupped the back of Umi's neck in his hands, massaging the pearly smoothness of her skin, gave her a last kiss, and then sat up again.
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable," He said, studying her for her reaction.
She blinked. And then broke out into a smile. "No, it's okay. I mean, I don't really want to go any further." There was a little nervous chuckle. "I'm still a student. But here, you can lie down here. Beside me. Let's just rest for a moment, okay? Together."
Not even noticing that she still held the hat in her hands, Ascot obliged, and the two of them lay side by side hand in hand, gazing up quietly at the sky that reeked of night even though it may have very well been mid-day.
Umi rolled over onto her side and lay her head down on his chest, using it for a pillow, as it was much more comfortable than the spiky grass. "Hey, Ascot?"
"Hey."
"I've got a question."
Questions, questions. Life stunk of questions and lacked answers. "Okay."
"How'd you do it?"
"Do what?"
I could answer so many different things to that, Umi realized. "How'd you find those stupid Sheki's?"
For some reason, Ascot went quiet and sullen again, falling into such a lapse that Umi was disturbed and worried. "I know the area well." He answered flatly.
"There you go again."
"Go what?"
The grass stirred gently as she sat up, sending him a studying look downwards. "Something's bothering you. Alcione didn't hurt you more than we know, did she?"
Ascot chuckled. "She wishes she could. No, I'm fine. Just thinking."
"That's what's different about you." Her teasing choice of vocabulary undermined her serious tone and expression. "All that thinking."
"Umi, why do you think the Sheki grabbed you, Ferio, and all the rest? What were they aiming for? The Pillar, right?"
She shrugged carelessly, which was an ironic gesture since she cared about everything at that very moment. "I'm not a Sheki. Go ask one."
He snorted. "Yeah. Sure. And then he'd stab me in the back."
"What?"
"My brother."
Shock was in so much pure absolution right then that Umi, for once, didn't have a single retort for Ascot as he clarified that yes, he had a brother. Ascot was Sheki, Palu Sheki. He had a brother that was a Palu Sheki named Nori, and Nori. "He's sort of drastic," Ascot said for a description.
"So that's what's bothering you. God, I never even thought that you might have a brother. I guess 'cause I'm an only child I sometimes feel like everyone's like me. I should know from Hikaru and Fuu's experience though. So, did you work things out with him?"
Ascot couldn't resist the smirk that was the offspring of knowledge that spread across his face. "You don't really work things out with Nori, Umi. He always has this urge to control everything around him."
She frowned and crossed her arms, annoyance at the complicated emotions that fate always transpired to haunt the ones she cared about. "But surely he doesn't want Cephiro's destruction!"
"I don't know -what- the hell it is he wants."
"Oh. Been away from him that long, huh?" Pity showed in Umi's expression.
The pain of memories and ghosts reborn hurt, so Ascot closed his eyes in a futile effort to escape as much as he could from the world around him. Hard thought showed in the furrowing of his brow. "No. I guess I do know. Though I have no clue what that has to do with the Pillar."
Umi's immediate reply mirrored truth. "Everything has to do with the Pillar."
"Yeah."
A pause. Then, "I guess he wants war."
"War? With the Pillar? Why?"
"Not the Pillar. War with the Jova Tribe."
"Another tribe?"
'Nori! Nori, wait up! Where are you going?'
'Out.'
'Out where?'
'Do you ever stop with the senseless questions, Ascot?'
'No.'
'......'
'Is something wrong? Heeeeelllllooooo???? Are you listening to me? WAKE UP!'
'Ascot. Just wait a second.'
'Why? It's boring.'
'The Pillar's abandoned us. You should show more care.'
'Nori......are you crying? What's wrong? Say, where's Miiko?'
'........'
'Ascot, do you know what happens when the Pillar abandons her people?'
'Uh.......'
'It's called war.'
'War?'
'Yes. War is a very sad thing, Ascot. We lost Miiko to war.'
Umi stood slowly, raising her blue eyes to the blackened heavens. A quiet breeze passed through, whisking her long hair into a face for a moment, and then correcting the problem as another thrall of wind came through. "I see. When the Pillar, who prays for abundance and peace in Cephiro is no longer able to continue her duty, and when things become imperfect and there is no absolute happiness, people return to wars and fighting over things. Right?"
Ascot nodded. "Miiko was our sister. I was very young at the time so it was easier for me. But for Nori...... Miiko was his twin sister. It was not so easy for him." A sigh. "He'll try to take advantage of people's torn hearts and direct the Sheki's aggravation at the Jova tribe that killed her. He is........very vengeful."
Silence existed through the peaceful stretch of meadow. Then, "Ascot, do you know where this Jova tribe is?"
Ascot blinked. "Ummmmmm....... Yeah."
She turned to face him quickly, almost startlingly so, her hair and her skirt swaying with her. "Take me there."
"What?"
"Take me there. We have to talk this out with them."
Ascot's surprise translated into a very blank and confused look that he gave Umi.
"Look, for you, war is rare. But on Earth - in my world - there are always wars going on, and there are always people like Miiko. We can't," She sighed and took a deep breath, "Miiko will be the last, if I have anything to say about it. And trust me, I intend to say a lot to these Jova folk."
He did trust her. And it was because he trusted her and her intent that he obliged.
Civil war had racked Eagle's country for two years nearly four decades ago. The history of Autozam's poisoned land, however, was the farthest thing from mind as he roamed the halls of Cephiro's palace. No, his mind dwelt primarily on the history of Cephiro, the country of the Pillar and the country that was Lantis' origination. Watching the drama that unfolded with the denizens of this strange yet wonderful land during that last odd adventure had been - a learning experience, if anything.
He'd seen Clef in the pain of complicated magic and understood his even more complicated relationship with the artisan Presea. He'd watched as Ferio had challenged the Sheki tribesmen known as Nori, Nori's crack about his sister's 'psychotic episode' infuriating him on. He'd then learned that Nori and Ascot shared a bond of blood, as physical appearance and attire had hinted, and learned that it was more than not a relationship of bad blood as well.
And after all that, the only thing he could think was that he wanted to see Lantis, now that it had passed and they could breathe a sigh of relief, even if it was questionable whether or not this was the calm after the storm or before the storm. So he searched, but the intricate weaving of halls inside the palace only proved confusing. Instead of finding Lantis' company, he found Geo as his cheerful comrade suddenly left a room a few doors down from himself.
"'Lo Eagle! Clef's in there. Presea just woke up and I was showing her where he was. What happened anyway, that they both got so wiped like that?"
"Oh, hey Geo. I'm not totally sure. Ferio or Fuu might know."
Geo blinked at this. "Eh, okay. Well, things were mostly boring here."
Eagle smiled; boring was good. He vocalized this. "And I'm thankful."
"Except......"
"Except?"
Eagle had continued walking straight, but he now stopped before Geo, raising an eyebrow to demonstrate his confusion to the inclusion of 'except'. Geo merely offered him a thoughtful frown, nervously combing his hands through his spiky hair. "I'm not sure if this is really the place or the time, Eagle. It's kind of private for you."
"But you know it."
"It's private for Autozam foreigners." A nervous chuckle. "Zazu's missing out. Man, I hope that little fella's okay. You know how he is."
An attempt to divert the conversation? "Yeah. So when will I see this private information?"
"Hmm." The frown on Geo's expression held more of a thoughtful, whimsical air than ever. "I'm going to probably drop by later tonight. Or morning. I'm going to have to take a look at Fuu's watch-thing-a-mig-jig 'cause I don't know what the hell time it is, heh. Is that alright?"
It was.
"So where you going anyway?"
"I'm not sure. Do you know where Lantis is?"
For the slightest fraction of a moment, Geo's expression contained an inexplicable emotion, a fleeting thing that, despite Eagle's years with the man, he could not decode and partially did not want to decode. Then it passed, and Geo answered cheerfully, "Yeah, I think I saw him in his brother's room."
The meaning in the fact that it was his brother's room and nowhere else was not lost on either of them, so Geo let Eagle go without a word, except maybe urging him on. Eagle thought he heard Geo say something like, "He needs you even if he won't admit it," but he wasn't sure about it.
When Eagle got there, Lantis sat in his brother's room on his brother's bed holding a sword of his brothers. That irony did not escape Eagle, but neither did he feel that Lantis was mourning - Lantis, he felt, had done that before and had gotten all of it out that he would ever let another human see. No, this time it was more of a whimsical wondering look that befell Lantis' expression and demeanor.
Lantis looked up as Eagle's footsteps gave away his entrance. Eagle offered him a gentle smile, and, without a word spoken between them because this was just one of those moments when speaking is one of the silliest and most trivial things in the world, took a seat on the bed by Lantis.
"Your brother was good at sword-play?"
Lantis chuckled. It was a rare thing, but always beautiful and important when it happened. "No. My brother was actually very prone to clumsiness that doesn't work with swords. That's the part no one ever saw, his clumsiness, because he seemed so poised in stature."
Eagle met the story with a smile. "But he had swords. This is one, right?"
"Yes."
It was definitely a sword of superior make, Eagle decided as he studied it further. Black on the hilt - a little odd, because as Priest Zagato Eagle had always thought his garb to be white (Eagle had always thought wrong about that but this didn't trivialize his subtle surprise any less) - and with quite the fang to accompany it, it was not to be mistaken for anything less than noble.
"Presea made it." Lantis continued. "And Clef charmed it."
"Charmed it?"
"Yes, a very peculiar but very important charm for a Head Priest to have."
As Lantis offered it to him, Eagle took it, admiring how lightweight it was. He fingered the hilt and gave the blade a little swish through the air, careful about Lantis head as he did it. "Being?"
"It glows when the Pillar is in trouble."
Sometimes very ironic things happen.
Like right then, as Eagle held the sword out to Lantis for him to take back.
There was a strange little humming sound, and the metal crisped into a golden glow.
