Disclaimer: By…Ashitaka from Princess Mononoke (Mononoke Hime):
ACG: O_o "You run fast."
Ashitaka: "A demon cursed me with a mark on my arm. Now I have to stop that one lady from chopping off the head of the forest spirit."
ACG: "What does that have to do with running fast?"
Ashitaka: *shrug*
ACG: "ANYways, do I look like I own Escaflowne to you?"
Ashitaka: "No."
ACG: "Thanks! Anything else you'd like to say?"
Ashitaka: "Just don't try to behead the forest spirit. Or I'll chop your arm off."
ACG: O_o "Oh. Okay." *holds onto arms protectively*
Second Destiny By Another Cat Girl
Chapter 6
(((Allen looked through the stained wine glass. "If I'm not mistaken, they already think she's cursed, do they not?"
"They do."
Allen absently twisted the glass. "Then we'll have to move quickly, won't we?")))
Celena was sitting in Queen Milerna's study trying to needlepoint an ocean scene on a pillow. The young woman had changed out of her soaked pants and shirt into a light blue and white dress that accented her eyes, and was spending the afternoon in the queen's company. The study had thousands of books piled onto high shelves and all over the few pieces of furniture in the room. The light came brightly through a small window, cheerfully illuminating the cozy room.
Celena bit her lip and looked down at her work. The birds that were supposed to be flying in the distance looked like scrawled V's. The ocean was an unrecognizable blue blob at the bottom, and the sun looked more like a hazy gold coin than anything else.
"Millerna, if I do this so often, then why am I not good at it?" Celena put the pillow down; she was sure that no one would want to see her ridiculous stitching, much less sleep on it.
Millerna laughed and looked up from the book she was reading. "Well, there are other things you could do, Celena."
"I know. How…how is Prince Merlot doing?" Celena asked, trying to be nonchalant.
"He's doing well, given how much he's gibbering about it. The injuries were not that serious." Millerna turned back to her book.
"Millerna," Celena said worriedly. "What did he say happened to him in the kitchen?"
"Now, Celena," Millerna smiled. "I thought you didn't like Merlot. I didn't think you would be so nervous about his welfare."
"No, of course I'm not. I just wanted to know."
Millerna stopped smiling when she saw Celena's serious expression. "Well, he told me and the other nurses that a man with silver hair and red eyes attacked him without warning. According to him, the man grabbed a boiling pot off the stove and slammed it on top of his head. If you ask me, it sounds like a whole lot of nonsense. He probably just had an accident and was too stupid to admit it."
Celena looked at her hands. "Did…did he mention me?"
Millerna seemed alarmed. "What's wrong, Cel? Is something the matter?"
Celena looked straight into the young queen's eyes. "He said that it was my fault. He said that the man looked exactly like me but with red eyes. He said I was cursed."
"And I say that he's just an idiot that managed to pour a pot of boiling water on his head." Millerna put on a more serious expression. "Don't let him convince you. What happened had nothing to do with you."
The young woman nodded and didn't tell her sister-in-law the other worries that she had. ~I can't remember anything that happened from the time he started offering me towels to when I was outside. And if he did it himself, then why did the other servants see the mysterious man? ~
Celena changed the subject. "So, how is life, being married to Allen?" The young woman picked up a book and started looking at it, looking at the cover. When Millerna didn't answer her right away, she glanced up at her. Millerna was staring at the far wall, biting her lip.
She turned to Celena and said, "I need to tell you something, sister. I have to tell somebody. I can't keep it to myself anymore."
Celena immediately put down the book and listened attentively. Millerna continued. "When Dryden left, I told him that I wouldn't wait for him, so I married Allen. That is what I always thought I wanted to do. Now...now I'm sure I made the wrong decision when I married your brother. I...don't think Allen loves me, Celena. Actually, I'm sure of it. I think...I think he's cheating on me, sister!"
Celena looked at Millerna in shock. "He can't have... he couldn't have…"
"He has, Celena and he drinks now. I...I don't know what to do." She put her face in her hands, and waited for Celena to answer
"I don't know what you should do, either. I'm so confused. How could Allen do something like that? I know he's not like that. At least, I don't think he's like that. I haven't spent much time with him lately." She shook her head.
Millerna looked desperate. "You can't tell anyone about this, sister. I don't want anyone to know about this until I know how to deal with it."
Celena nodded slowly. "I won't, sister," she said faintly.
Millerna nodded, satisfied. Celena slowly got up and left the room as if she was in a trance. As soon as she turned the corner she broke into a run to her room.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* (Whoa, kind of big scene change…^_^ I LOVE FOLKEN!!)
Folken looked over the capital city of Zaibach from his perch on top of the tallest skyscraper. (1) The sun was setting behind him, making the metallic buildings glint painfully into his eyes, but he didn't move. He wore loose dark robes, and a black cloak around his bare shoulders. The city was more bustling than he had ever seen it under Emperor Dornkirk's rule. The people of Zaibach were content, now that the Destiny War had literally stopped in mid-battle and that the rule of their oppressive and psychotic emperor was finally over.
Folken felt a slight smile spread across his face. It was an unfamiliar sensation.
~When was the last time I was happy? Maybe it is my calling in life to be unhappy. Heaven knows I deserve it, or I wouldn't have been sent back to this. ~
He remembered what happened the day the Destiny War ended very vividly. That was the day when he received his second chance at a painful life. The same day the Dragonslayers were brought back into existence. The images of that day raced through his mind with striking clarity.
*Flashback*
Hitomi looked up at him, starting to cry. "Folken, you can't go! If you go to Zaibach, then you'll die!"
Folken closed his eyes peacefully, then opened them again to look at the young schoolgirl. "I have to go to Zaibach."
He turned slowly, pulling down his cloak to spread his magnificent black wings. "These black wings were a result of my changed fortune. I will die soon because of them anyway."
Hitomi's horrified expression was darkened by the shadow of Folken's black wings. Tears streamed down her face. Her pendant flashed with a bright red light and helped Folken's invention take them to Zaibach.
*~*
Folken snarled in anger at the depraved old man and launched his attack. Behind him, he heard Hitomi scream, "Folken-san! No!" but he ignored her. All that was needed was for Dornkirk to die and the war would stop. He drew his sword.
The sorcerer landed softly in front of Dornkirk, his wings fluttering to balance him. Folken resolutely sliced into the emperor and blood splattered in every direction. His eyes widened as his sword caught on something, and pain blossomed in his chest. The prince looked down in shock to see the tip of his sword embedded in his own flesh.
"I see... the power of fate alteration..." Folken felt his vision become hazy. "May Gaia find true peace."
He let himself fall back over the edge, and everything seemed to get dimmer the farther he fell.
~Maybe this deed will suffice...~
His body slammed against the cold ground below, but he didn't feel it. Folken's blood spread, and his eyes closed.
"Brother..."
*~*
Hitomi screamed as Folken fell. Black feathers floated slowly, softly after him, lamenting his passing. Her vision blurred with tears, and she sank to her knees. "No...I can't take it anymore! I won't watch anyone else die!"
The whole room started to glow with the same light that transported her there. She closed her eyes against the bright glow, and when she opened them an old man was standing beside her. He turned to her and gestured at the light that surrounded the machine.
"With your wishes, you have created the Zone of Absolute Fortune. All the wishes of the people of Gaia will now be fulfilled."
Hitomi asked, "Are you Isaac?"
The old man nodded. "Your wishes are especially strong. You have wished for a second chance for a few who have died and for a few that still live, including myself. This is an ultimate change in fortune, and I thank you for it. I see what I have done wrong, and I have given up trying to change fate with a machine." The old man smiled. "Now I can die in peace. I have lived hundreds of years too long."
Hitomi heard footsteps to her left, and she turned. "Folken-san!"
Folken nodded and smiled softly. "I see that I am not done with this life's pain. I can beg forgiveness now. Thank you."
Hitomi's eyes filled with tears and she hurriedly hugged him. He was too surprised to hug her back.
"Thank goodness you're alright, Folken-san! I really didn't want you to die!" As she let go, her hand brushed his wing. She gasped in wonder and stood back. The wings that spread from his back were now pure white, like Van's.
(End of Flashback)
Folken glanced down at the city below again, and stood up quickly. It wouldn't do to sit for too long, even in reminiscence. He shuffled through the remaining memories.
Hitomi had stopped the war with her wishes of peace(2), and Van came to break Dornkirk's Fate Alteration Engine. Folken had left the building rather than face his brother. He could never ask his forgiveness, at least not now. He left the room quietly.
Isaac followed him and fell to the ground, finally dying of old age. Folken supported the ancient emperor's head as he expressed regret over his wasted existence and asked Folken to forgive him for ruining his life with false hopes of a better fate. He told Folken that he wanted him to be the emperor in his place. Then the old man's eyes closed, and his spirit was lifted to earth with a dusty wind.
The public accepted Folken as the new emperor, mostly because all of the other high officials knew that Folken wouldn't interfere with their already set up administrations. The Four Generals returned with honors, and all seemed to be well again in Zaibach.
Then there was the strange day when Dilandau's lost Dragonslayers returned from the dead. They had been revived by someone's strong wish in the Zone of Absolute Fortune and had traveled for weeks to return to Zaibach and for some word of what had happened to their commander Dilandau. They learned that their master had lived through the final battle of the Destiny War, but all the Zaibach troops found of him was his red Alseides Unit with the hatch open and no one inside.
Folken hadn't told them what he thought had happened to the pyromaniac general. He decided to wait until he was sure where Celena was before he got their hopes up with the possibility of their commander's return. The Dragonslayers took their place back into the honored military elite, and served the Four Generals personally, not wanting to serve under any one person until Dilandau returned. They were all sure that one day he would.
Folken started. The sun had already set and the Mystic Moon was starting to rise on the horizon. It was well past time to sleep. The emperor moved his cloak and spread his brilliant wings to float down through the open window of his chambers.
Beloved Reviewers:
Nihongo: Sorry, you know I love you, right? *looks at Nihongo's death stare, and quickly changes the subject* "Hurry up and bandage me, 'cause I'm CUT" -the Elusive Allen Schezar. Oh, yeah, I slept through Kendo, my early-bird-like friend. You make me sick with your anti-sleeping ways. *makes fist, but Nihongo makes a bigger one* Okay...you win...as usual...but I'm not a beso…Oh, yeah, and Shesta reluctantly gives you a hug…reluctantly, but I told him to.
BlackDragon7: 'Sup, my brown little friend? You read my story! Yay! Oh, sorry I didn't kill Allen, but I did have his wife talk some trash. And I can't leave this story until he's dead…so don't worry your head! You get a delightful hug from Shesta-san!
Mel88: You love it? ^_^ I hope you enjoy the rest, then! You get a double hug from both Shesta and Miguel! Thanks!
Digi-riven: *giggles* I love that! Dilandau's in the next chapter, and it's funny, I think…
Redundant Goddess: You like long-bladed bishies, too? And I thought I was the only one…and I just love the ones with white hair… *looks over at Sephiroth shrine and nods* I love that guy… so crazy… so perfect!