AN- Wow!! How long has it been since I've updated this story??? Way too long! First off, I'd like to thank everyone who graciously reviewed… which sadly wasn't much, but really gratifying anywaysJ. Second off, I'd like to apologize for not updating, but as it is the summer holidays, I have been busy… I was away from the computer for 5 weeks... *shudder* went through fan fiction withdrawal. Third off, I'm really, really, sorry for spelling/grammar errors. I was reading the first Chapter and I couldn't stand some of it, so I re-posted that.
Okay, now back to the story!!
Alteration of Fate
Ch.2- What Comes Around, Goes Around
Folken's POV
I didn't like leaving my sanctuary on the Vione, my flying fortress, so when I arrived at the Palace I couldn't help but feel strangely out of place. Being one of Zaibach's most prominent sorcerers and strategists I supposed I'd feel more welcomed, but one major factor that was playing against me was that I was an outsider, a Draconian outsider. So when I stepped unto the docking platform I felt a strong wave of impending doom. Ahead was a door, and once I crossed it, I'd be in enemy territory.
My mind was unnaturally blank as I elegantly reached the door, and as I swung it open I glimpsed, to my dread, a hall full of sorcerers, leering at me, ready to "greet" me.
Suddenly a booming voice echoed down the dark and crowded hall, sending unwelcome chills down my spine, "Please welcome, Folken Lacour de Fanel; a man who failed the dragon slaying right, fled his country unable to carry such shame, and then, destroyed it. For these crimes he must be punished."
When all this was said, the dark mass of sorcerers descended down upon me, smothering me with their presence, a mad gleam in their eyes, like Dilandau's. I closed my eyes while shrinking against the cool, metallic wall.
"Naryia… Eriya…" I heard myself whisper. "Van… help me…"
***
With that I awoke, drenched in sweat, my sheets tangled in between my legs. Laying face down in my pillow which smelled strangely metallic, I let consciousness wash over me. I noticed with serene pleasure that the room held a comforting darkness that allowed my soul and spirit to sink into, allowing me to let go of my pain, my guilt, my loneliness…
And realizing with a start that once more I was sinking into self-pity I pushed myself roughly out of bed, feeling vaguely dead. Glancing outside, half-heartedly hoping to see the sun, I cursed as I was abruptly brought back to reality, when the sight of the black clouds obscuring the sun reached my eyes. Zaibach had once been a hot desert, the inhabitants struggling against war, pestilence, and famine before Dornkirk came and changed the very existence of the people with his… science.
'The same science that gave me this,' I thought bitterly, flexing my arm.
An unexpected beeping got my attention while the blinking red lights of the alarm clock gleamed mischievously, mocking my slow waking into this non-existent morning.
"Shut UP!!" I yelled finally, unable to take the high pitched laughter, as I reached over to my bedside table and smashed the clock into pieces. Reluctantly I crawled out of bed, inching my way to the closet, withdrawing some random garment which I slung over my shoulder, and dutifully made my way to the washroom.
'Same routine over and over. It's a miracle I haven't been driven mad yet,' I thought gloomily as I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My eyes traced the contour of my rectangular face, they brushed my matted hair, jumped over the reflection of protruding bones and they finally rested on their own reflection.
"Another day in paradise," I muttered bitterly to myself as I turned on the hot water. With a childish fascination I watched as the steam rose and evenly fogged up my reflection, while some steam that escaped danced above my head. Feeling that childish urge grow, I suddenly released my wings; my once white and pristine pride and joy where fading into a dull, soft shimmering grey.
A crash startled me out of my reverie, and as quickly as possible I furled my wings back inside, grabbed my robes, and while I was pulling them on, I stumbled out of the washroom, fully dressed, grabbed my sword, and ran out of the room to see what had caused such a loud noise that still echoed somewhere in my skull. Once outside the door, I felt my cool and unflappable mask in place, ready for anything. To my dis-ease I found the hallway empty, until I felt something oily drip on my chin. Looking up I found three Imperial Guards tied to a water pipe, unconscious and/or dead.
I turned my attention back to the hall, and to my surprise I heard another loud bang, and people moaning. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt my blood rushing to my fingers. Not resisting the impulse I unfurled my wings once more, not giving a damn about my shredded robes, and I followed the sound of the fighting down the hall.
At the end of the hall, I was met with another pile of dead guards as well as a shadowy figure, who took off as soon as it saw me. Not wasting a beat I was off.
Narrator's POV
And so he flew down the twisting corridors. With every turn his heart beat sped up, and he savored the feeling of feeling alive once more. Several times he passed a team of guards which where also following the intruder. The intruder however was zigzagging past the guards effortlessly, picking up speed as he raced through the corridors, winding his way, hoping to shake off the cursed angel. Feeling slightly unsettled, Shade decided to pull one of his many tricks, and instead of gliding forward into another corridor, he jumped unto a water-pipe and with satisfaction watched as the guards and Folken passed below.
Narrator (Folken's) POV
He fluttered down. Something was wrong.
The shadow was gone. It escaped...
Folken's mind was racing with unanswered why's and how's, but he felt it… the shadow was behind him somehow, and he was going to find it.
'Bastard,' he thought with satisfaction as his adrenaline kicked in once more.
He closed his eyes, concentrating on the fleeting shadow he saw every time he had turned a corner…
"Deeper… It went deeper inside… Where?"
"Folken-sama?" a voice startled him out of his trance. "Folken-sama, General Adolphus wants you to help us track down…"
"Soldier, what do you think I am trying to do?" Folken asks sharply. The soldier bowed his head in an apologetic manner and left Folken to his meditation.
'Darkness… Twisting madness… and… What's this? Light, bright sudden light…'
As suddenly as he snapped at the soldier he flew off, the guards hot on his heels.
***
Folken had to admit that the intruder was good. Somehow he had managed to weave through over fifteen patrols directly into a high security area, leaving everyone baffled at his direction. But Folken had the key; he knew his purpose.
He stopped outside the heavy metal doors. Briefly regretting his torn clothes, he pushed the already ajar door to enter the Royal Holding Room, Dornkirk's personal treasury with items he thought useful in creating his fate alteration machines. Folken had never been inside this room before as Dornkirk had always provided him with the items he needed, so he wasn't sure what to except. He blinked twice, trying to adjust to the sudden dazzling light while trying to realize what he was seeing. The storage room was long and narrow, and the dazzling light was created by the reflection of the dim lights on the glass-like walls.
Folken smiled, now pleased with the knowledge of why the shadow was so hard to trace. He was dressed in black from head to toe, except for the long grey cape that had rippled behind him, making him nearly invisible in the muted lights of the hall. Now however, in the artificial sunlight, the whole get-up was of no use; the intruder stuck out like a sore thumb. Next, Folken was stuck slightly by the thief's levitating ability which he was shamelessly using, tapping the wall some thirty feet above the ground.
With mounting excitement, Folken opened his wings once more and he flew after the stranger.
'You're mine', he thought with some fulfillment while drawing his sword, intending to surprise the intruder by striking him from behind, when to his surprise he heard the crisp ringing of metal on metal. The shadow that had so elusively penetrated the castle had drawn a sword. Stunned, Folken drew back to survey the situation as he saw no sheath tied in the stranger's waist, but however the drawer was open.
While Folken was putting two and two together, Shade grabbed the green sword's sheath and started to dive towards the exit. Folken dived after the stranger, but before he could swerve out of the way, the stranger turned on him and engaged him in combat. Blocking Shade's attack, the grey-winged angel continued the challenge by striking back. He was vaguely aware that almost all of the larcenists face was covered, except for a yellow cat's eye that gleamed menacingly. But his training with Balgus had taught him that it wasn't the opponent's looks that could defeat him, and judging by the opponent's skill with the sword his life wasn't in danger.
They where a few feet from the ground and the only exit, when Folken realized what the thief was planning to do.
"Clever, clever. But not clever enough," he stated to the dark shape at the end of his sword calmly, and with a smooth movement brought down his sword handle onto the thief's hand.
*THWANK*
Pain rippled through Shade's arm and he dropped the sword as his vision swam. His would-be capturer looked somewhat triumphant and that let out a current of anger through Shade's already tense body.
Folken was observing the prisoner thoughtfully when out of nowhere a knee impacted with his groin. Folken bent down in pain, and this time Shade watched him with great pleasure.
Shade's one eye glittered. "What goes around, comes around," he whispered almost tenderly, and gracefully fell to the ground, picked up his fallen sword and was about to exit when the Imperial Guards came blocking the exit.
Hesitating slightly he backed up, bumping into the muscular frame of Folken, who was now openly smirking though still in some obvious pain.
"Freeze!" yelled some Captain Folken didn't recognize.
Folken felt the intruder (who was exactly a head shorter than him) who still pinned against his frame tense and then relax with defeat.
"I'm already frozen, moron," muttered Shade under his breath as he raised his gloved hands and dropped the sword once more unto the ground. But Folken noticed that the sheath had somehow disappeared.
The Captain of the Guard mentioned some of his soldiers to come closer, patted down Shade in the most obvious places for hiding weapons, while removing daggers and a few darts, and when they where satisfied they tightly bound Shade's hands and where gone.
The Captain, however, stayed behind and when they where clearly out of earshot he turned to Folken who was also still standing and looking dangerously thoughtful.
"Ahem… Folken-sama," started the guard, flinching slightly at the peaceful aura of grey feathers falling to the ground, but continued anyways, "Folken-sama, we a-are grateful for your assistance in catching the perpetrator…" Folken bowed, and the guard plowed on, "The… Generals… would like you to interrogate the prisoner." Raising his eyebrow at the guard's obvious awkwardness, Folken withdrew his wings. The Captain visibly relaxed.
"When?" asked Folken feeling slightly irritated with himself that he hadn't stripped the upper half of his garments. He started out of the storage and down the hallway with the guard right behind him.
"Whenever you please, Folken-sama."
Folken's eyes narrowed. "I'll be there within half an hour."
"Sir!" and the guard and was gone.
Folken strode placidly down the hall, lost in thought about his upcoming visit to that mysterious woman dressed in black.
***
TBC
AN- Once more it's me!!! R/R and thank you to everyone who reviewed!!
Raene13- your comment came at the right moment. Without your review there might not have been more!! Thanks a bunches.
Fiends Angelical- Thank you, highly appreciated.
Sadie Joyce Myst Lady- I'm glad you've found this good. I got so fed up waiting for a Folken fic. I hope I can write this up to your expectations.