----Begin Chapter 2---- Prophecy----
(Small Authors Note--- I beg all Trigun fans who read the following chapter in What I have decided to dub "The Crimson Angel" saga, please don't kill me. I did only what I thought would advance a story, and salvage some of the less appealing portions of the series..... I think it works, but tell me what you think... any suggestions you can email me at chaotichappenings@yahoo.com any hate mail.... please direct those to maurice_monkey@yahoo.com.... He's probably bored enough as it is.... give him all yer hate....^_^ enjoy.)
In a small truck riding through the desert heading north towards the ruins of Mei, the foursome discusses plans, and possible strategies.
Vash: "Why are we going back to Mei, again?"
Bounty: "I told you last time, Vash, we need to look for clues as to the current whereabouts of Haryusa. Since he was last seen in Mei, that is the best spot to start our search."
Vash: ( scratching head...and sounding far away) "Well I suppose that makes sense......"
As they round the next sand dune, the destroyed city of Mei comes into full view. A collective gasp rises from the truck, as they all come to fully see the horror that has befallen Mei. Over half of the city lay in rubble, the remaining buildings were scattered about in haphazard clusters. The walls charred and cracking. The one thing that is oddly absent is the bodies.
Meryl: "I thought you said no one survived? Where are all the bodies?"
Bounty: "I'm not sure.... We'll have to investigate....."
Parking the truck on the outskirts of the ruined city, the group splits up into two groups, Vash and Bounty in one group, Meryl and Millie in the other. The insurance girls took the north side of the city, while Vash and Bounty went south.
----Northside, Interlude----
The insurance girls scoured the northside of the city, hour after hour of monotonous treking through charred rubble, and abandoned buildings. All the time looking for clues, some stray sign as to where The Dragon may strike next, but finding nothing.
Meryl: "We've searched the entire northside,and we've seen nothing... no clues, and oddly no bodies."
Millie: "Maybe they got buried?"
Meryl: "Who is left to do that? Everyone is dead...."
Millie: " I don't know."
In the shadow of a nearby building a pair of eye watches the insurance girls... small tears forming on the edges. As the tears became thicker, a small shiffle is heard echoing through the deserted city.
Meryl: "Did you hear something?"
Millie: "No Meryl."
Meryl: "Oh well, must have been my imagination."
Millie: "You're jumpy today Meryl......"
Meryl: "I think It's that Bounty girl... I don't trust her..... she's up to something......"
----Southside, Interlude----
Vash and Bounty walk slowly south. Just like the insurance girls all they see is charred rubble and abandoned buildings. A random mess of multi-hued bricks and signs... support beams and metallic scraps litter the walkways, making the trek very difficult. Finally the duo reaches the south border of the town, having found no clues and no signs of the bodies. Looking towards the southern horizon Vash thinks about what to do next.
Bounty: "Vash, what are you thinking about?"
Vash: "Doesn't it seem odd that all the bodies are gone? If there were no survivors where did the bodies go?"
Bounty: "I don't know... maybe a neighboring town took pity on the dead and buried them?"
Vash: "Maybe..... Let's go back and see if the insurance girls found anything...."
As the pair turns around, they see the last thing they ever expected to see in this ruined city.....
Little Boy: "Come with me... Mr. Alpris wishes to speak with you"
----Northside, interlude----
As the insurance girls make their way back to the truck, they are suddenly stopped by a familiar voice.
Mystery man: "Girls.... We need to talk."
----Southside Interlude----
Vash: "Um...Ms. Bounty....Why is there a little kid leading us through the ruins of this city?"
Bounty: "I don't know. Ask the boy!"
Vash: "Um...Little Boy... where are you taking us?"
Little Boy: "My name is Tomen, and I already told you I am taking you to see Mr Alpris"
Bounty: "Who is Alpris?"
Tomen: "Mr. Alpris is the leader of the survivors of the Haryusa's attack."
Vash: "So there were survivors? Where are you guys hiding?"
Tomen: "There were very few survivors. My Family was killed, as were most families... Only about 4 dozen people remain... we're over here....." ( Tomen gestures to a house on the eastern edge of town.)
Vash: "But we already searched there.... there wasn't anything there!"
Tomen: "Come with me. Mr. Alpris is waiting."
With that Tomen enters the house, leading Bounty and Vash. He leads them into the celler, and pushes aside the bookcase, revealing the entrance to a cave. He leads the duo onward, deeper into the cave, which is lit on both sides by electric lamps at about 20 meter intervals. Finally the passage opens up into a large dome shaped grotto. At it's center the top of the dome is obscured in darkness. Tents and small shelters dot the landsape, as well as several small wells. In the very center of the dome A larger structure has been set up, smoke waifting from the top. It is to this structure that Tomen leads the travelers.
Bounty: "Wow... this place is amazing!"
Vash: "Yes it is...... I never knew this was hidden under Mei."
Tomen: "Please enter. Mr. Alpris will see you now."
Vash: " Ok Tomen."
Upon entering the small structure, the first thing Vash notices is that it is not lit by electric lamps, but is instead lit by twin braziers, filled with gently burning coals. A faint tinge of incense sweetening the scent of the acrid smoke, which is then syphoned out through a hole in the raised center. Underneath the hole sits a slightly aged man, possibly in his mid to late fifties. His clothing is unexceptional, in fact it was rather plain looking.
Vash: "Are you Mr. Alpris?"
Alpris: "I am Alpris Auger, you don't need to call me Mister, though. We will begin this meeting, Vash, as soon as your 3 friends arrive..."
Vash: "Three friends? I only remember two..... and how did you know my name?"
Alpris: "I know many things Vash, all will be revealed in time....."
And so the threesome sat in the firelit shelter, waiting for the arrival of the insurance girls and the mysterious third person. With nothing to pass the time, the three sit in silence, each consumed by their own thoughts. Vash became increasingly bored, as the time went on, and was just about to start up a conversation with Alpris and Bounty, when the flap to the shelter rustled, and then parted. In walks the insurance girls. Meryl with a dumbfounded expression on her face, and Mille with tears streaming from her eyes.
Alpris: "Sit Millie, Meryl.....we have much to discuss."
Vash: "What's wrong girls?"
Meryl: "H-h-h-h-he's......."
Millie: "He was dead......."
Bounty: "Who are you talking about?"
As she speaks, the flap rustles again, as a black sleeve reaches in to part it. On the cuff, Vash sees something he never thought he'd see again, a white cross....
Vash: "What's going on here?"
Into the tent steps Mr. Nicholas D. Wolfwood, priest and former dead man.
Alpris: "Finally you come back, Mr. Wolfwood, I see you found the girls."
Wolfwood: "They were just where you told me they would be, Alpris."
Vash: "But...you're dead....."
Alpris: "We shall discuss that now. Would you like to tell them, Wolfwood?"
Wolfwood: "I suppose it must be told. I guess I have to start at the beginning. Vash, Alpris has been watching us for a long time. He has watched me for my entire life, and he has been watching you for the last 35 years. Remember how wherever you go there always seems to be a small black cat? Those cats are Alpris' eyes and ears, he has used them to keep an eye on us, but for what reason, I do not know."
Vash and the girls listen in silence. Vash still too stunned by the sudden rebirth of his lost friend. Millie and Meryl just sitting, trying to understand the story they were being told....
Wolfwood: "And that brings us to Tonim. We all remember what happened in Tonim. I had asked Millie to stay behind... Vash had gone to take care of Cain, leaving me to confront Chapel. After a long fight, I finally lowered my weapon, and spared Chapel's life, as Vash would have done. As I turned to walk off Chapel raised his weapon. I turned, prepared to confront him, but he got off his shots, and ran. Severely wounded I went off to find a place to rest. I stopped off and told Vash where to find Knives. Finally I stopped off in a church, where I had thought I would die. I tried to make my peace, and after that, blackness. When I woke up, I was in a tent in this underground shelter."
Alpris: "I will fill in the holes now. When Wolfwood entered the church he was wounded and bleeding badly. After he passed out, one of my townspeople came out and bandaged his wounds, and brought him here. Meanwhile another citizen dressed as a priest waited behind with the bloody mess on the floor and the cross. When you, Vash came in following the trail of blood, the priest told you that the man had come in, and died. He also said that he was already in a coffin, ready for burial. Grief-stricken, you did not seek further proof, you just took up his cross, and brought it back to the girls. The rest is history."
Vash: "Why did you make us think he was dead? Why did you do that to us?"
Alpris: "It was necessary to bring about the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. His death served to drive you on to the final confrontation with knives. If you had not confronted knives on that day, he would have taken control, and we would all be dead. Unfortunately a second part of the prophecy has come into play. The dragon has arrived, and he poses a great threat to this world, and all others. Only you can defeat him... If you fail, then we are all damned. Vash, can you kill your brother? Can you take one more life, to save everyone else?"
Vash: "Why does it always have to be killing? Can't there be some other way?"
Alpris: "Hesitation, means death.... you must kill or be killed, beyond that I can tell you no more."
Vash: "That's all you can tell me, that if I don't kill someone, I will die? Where is Haryusa? How do we find him?"
Alpris: "The time will come. Your meeting can not be avoided, but that day is not yet here.... you have time... spend it wisely, for the end shall come, and I pray that you will be the saviour I have forseen. Wolfwood, rejoin your comrades.... they will need you in the coming battle."
Wolfwood: "I was going to do that anyway."
Alpris: "Go now, there is much for you to do, and I imagine there is some....catching up you guys wish to do."
Meryl: "And that's it? That is all you dragged us down here for? Well, that was a waste of...."
Vash: "Come on, let's go."
Meryl: "What?"
Wolfwood: "He said let's go, as in we are leaving."
Wasting no time Wolfwood, and Vash stand and walk towards the exit, Quickly followed by Bounty and Millie. Meryl stubbornly remains sitting, obviously not done with her ranting. The other four however left, and began walking towards the exit, not wanting to be left behind, Meryl decides to follow, running quickly to catch up.
Meryl: "Hey wait for me!!!!"
----Flash Forward----
At the truck the five regroup. Vash, Meryl, and Millie all stare at Wolfwood. Bounty just looks idly back and forth between the two groups... finally getting bored and sitting in the truck instead.
Vash: "It's good to see you again."
Meryl: "This is the first time I have ever talked to a dead man."
Wolfwood: "Being dead isn't very pleasent....."
Millie, overcome by joy, grabs Wolfwood and hugs him.
Millie: "Mr. Wolfwood I'm so glad that you're not dead! Don't ever die on me again, if you do I won't be very happy with you, ok?"
Wolfwood: "Ok, I'll try and stay alive this time for you.....Ok?"
Millie: "Thank you."
Meryl: "Well.....we better get back to town.... before it gets too dark....."
All: "Right"
----Flash Forward----
Back at the hotel, Vash takes Wolfwood aside. While the three girls head off to their room.
Wolfwood: "What do you want Vash?"
Vash: "I think you left something behind..."
Opening the door to their room, Vash points to the corner, which is dominated by a big canvas covered cross.
Wolfwood: "I suppose you've borne this cross long enough......"
Vash: "Welcome back old Friend."
**** End Chapter 2****
(Small Authors Note--- I beg all Trigun fans who read the following chapter in What I have decided to dub "The Crimson Angel" saga, please don't kill me. I did only what I thought would advance a story, and salvage some of the less appealing portions of the series..... I think it works, but tell me what you think... any suggestions you can email me at chaotichappenings@yahoo.com any hate mail.... please direct those to maurice_monkey@yahoo.com.... He's probably bored enough as it is.... give him all yer hate....^_^ enjoy.)
In a small truck riding through the desert heading north towards the ruins of Mei, the foursome discusses plans, and possible strategies.
Vash: "Why are we going back to Mei, again?"
Bounty: "I told you last time, Vash, we need to look for clues as to the current whereabouts of Haryusa. Since he was last seen in Mei, that is the best spot to start our search."
Vash: ( scratching head...and sounding far away) "Well I suppose that makes sense......"
As they round the next sand dune, the destroyed city of Mei comes into full view. A collective gasp rises from the truck, as they all come to fully see the horror that has befallen Mei. Over half of the city lay in rubble, the remaining buildings were scattered about in haphazard clusters. The walls charred and cracking. The one thing that is oddly absent is the bodies.
Meryl: "I thought you said no one survived? Where are all the bodies?"
Bounty: "I'm not sure.... We'll have to investigate....."
Parking the truck on the outskirts of the ruined city, the group splits up into two groups, Vash and Bounty in one group, Meryl and Millie in the other. The insurance girls took the north side of the city, while Vash and Bounty went south.
----Northside, Interlude----
The insurance girls scoured the northside of the city, hour after hour of monotonous treking through charred rubble, and abandoned buildings. All the time looking for clues, some stray sign as to where The Dragon may strike next, but finding nothing.
Meryl: "We've searched the entire northside,and we've seen nothing... no clues, and oddly no bodies."
Millie: "Maybe they got buried?"
Meryl: "Who is left to do that? Everyone is dead...."
Millie: " I don't know."
In the shadow of a nearby building a pair of eye watches the insurance girls... small tears forming on the edges. As the tears became thicker, a small shiffle is heard echoing through the deserted city.
Meryl: "Did you hear something?"
Millie: "No Meryl."
Meryl: "Oh well, must have been my imagination."
Millie: "You're jumpy today Meryl......"
Meryl: "I think It's that Bounty girl... I don't trust her..... she's up to something......"
----Southside, Interlude----
Vash and Bounty walk slowly south. Just like the insurance girls all they see is charred rubble and abandoned buildings. A random mess of multi-hued bricks and signs... support beams and metallic scraps litter the walkways, making the trek very difficult. Finally the duo reaches the south border of the town, having found no clues and no signs of the bodies. Looking towards the southern horizon Vash thinks about what to do next.
Bounty: "Vash, what are you thinking about?"
Vash: "Doesn't it seem odd that all the bodies are gone? If there were no survivors where did the bodies go?"
Bounty: "I don't know... maybe a neighboring town took pity on the dead and buried them?"
Vash: "Maybe..... Let's go back and see if the insurance girls found anything...."
As the pair turns around, they see the last thing they ever expected to see in this ruined city.....
Little Boy: "Come with me... Mr. Alpris wishes to speak with you"
----Northside, interlude----
As the insurance girls make their way back to the truck, they are suddenly stopped by a familiar voice.
Mystery man: "Girls.... We need to talk."
----Southside Interlude----
Vash: "Um...Ms. Bounty....Why is there a little kid leading us through the ruins of this city?"
Bounty: "I don't know. Ask the boy!"
Vash: "Um...Little Boy... where are you taking us?"
Little Boy: "My name is Tomen, and I already told you I am taking you to see Mr Alpris"
Bounty: "Who is Alpris?"
Tomen: "Mr. Alpris is the leader of the survivors of the Haryusa's attack."
Vash: "So there were survivors? Where are you guys hiding?"
Tomen: "There were very few survivors. My Family was killed, as were most families... Only about 4 dozen people remain... we're over here....." ( Tomen gestures to a house on the eastern edge of town.)
Vash: "But we already searched there.... there wasn't anything there!"
Tomen: "Come with me. Mr. Alpris is waiting."
With that Tomen enters the house, leading Bounty and Vash. He leads them into the celler, and pushes aside the bookcase, revealing the entrance to a cave. He leads the duo onward, deeper into the cave, which is lit on both sides by electric lamps at about 20 meter intervals. Finally the passage opens up into a large dome shaped grotto. At it's center the top of the dome is obscured in darkness. Tents and small shelters dot the landsape, as well as several small wells. In the very center of the dome A larger structure has been set up, smoke waifting from the top. It is to this structure that Tomen leads the travelers.
Bounty: "Wow... this place is amazing!"
Vash: "Yes it is...... I never knew this was hidden under Mei."
Tomen: "Please enter. Mr. Alpris will see you now."
Vash: " Ok Tomen."
Upon entering the small structure, the first thing Vash notices is that it is not lit by electric lamps, but is instead lit by twin braziers, filled with gently burning coals. A faint tinge of incense sweetening the scent of the acrid smoke, which is then syphoned out through a hole in the raised center. Underneath the hole sits a slightly aged man, possibly in his mid to late fifties. His clothing is unexceptional, in fact it was rather plain looking.
Vash: "Are you Mr. Alpris?"
Alpris: "I am Alpris Auger, you don't need to call me Mister, though. We will begin this meeting, Vash, as soon as your 3 friends arrive..."
Vash: "Three friends? I only remember two..... and how did you know my name?"
Alpris: "I know many things Vash, all will be revealed in time....."
And so the threesome sat in the firelit shelter, waiting for the arrival of the insurance girls and the mysterious third person. With nothing to pass the time, the three sit in silence, each consumed by their own thoughts. Vash became increasingly bored, as the time went on, and was just about to start up a conversation with Alpris and Bounty, when the flap to the shelter rustled, and then parted. In walks the insurance girls. Meryl with a dumbfounded expression on her face, and Mille with tears streaming from her eyes.
Alpris: "Sit Millie, Meryl.....we have much to discuss."
Vash: "What's wrong girls?"
Meryl: "H-h-h-h-he's......."
Millie: "He was dead......."
Bounty: "Who are you talking about?"
As she speaks, the flap rustles again, as a black sleeve reaches in to part it. On the cuff, Vash sees something he never thought he'd see again, a white cross....
Vash: "What's going on here?"
Into the tent steps Mr. Nicholas D. Wolfwood, priest and former dead man.
Alpris: "Finally you come back, Mr. Wolfwood, I see you found the girls."
Wolfwood: "They were just where you told me they would be, Alpris."
Vash: "But...you're dead....."
Alpris: "We shall discuss that now. Would you like to tell them, Wolfwood?"
Wolfwood: "I suppose it must be told. I guess I have to start at the beginning. Vash, Alpris has been watching us for a long time. He has watched me for my entire life, and he has been watching you for the last 35 years. Remember how wherever you go there always seems to be a small black cat? Those cats are Alpris' eyes and ears, he has used them to keep an eye on us, but for what reason, I do not know."
Vash and the girls listen in silence. Vash still too stunned by the sudden rebirth of his lost friend. Millie and Meryl just sitting, trying to understand the story they were being told....
Wolfwood: "And that brings us to Tonim. We all remember what happened in Tonim. I had asked Millie to stay behind... Vash had gone to take care of Cain, leaving me to confront Chapel. After a long fight, I finally lowered my weapon, and spared Chapel's life, as Vash would have done. As I turned to walk off Chapel raised his weapon. I turned, prepared to confront him, but he got off his shots, and ran. Severely wounded I went off to find a place to rest. I stopped off and told Vash where to find Knives. Finally I stopped off in a church, where I had thought I would die. I tried to make my peace, and after that, blackness. When I woke up, I was in a tent in this underground shelter."
Alpris: "I will fill in the holes now. When Wolfwood entered the church he was wounded and bleeding badly. After he passed out, one of my townspeople came out and bandaged his wounds, and brought him here. Meanwhile another citizen dressed as a priest waited behind with the bloody mess on the floor and the cross. When you, Vash came in following the trail of blood, the priest told you that the man had come in, and died. He also said that he was already in a coffin, ready for burial. Grief-stricken, you did not seek further proof, you just took up his cross, and brought it back to the girls. The rest is history."
Vash: "Why did you make us think he was dead? Why did you do that to us?"
Alpris: "It was necessary to bring about the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. His death served to drive you on to the final confrontation with knives. If you had not confronted knives on that day, he would have taken control, and we would all be dead. Unfortunately a second part of the prophecy has come into play. The dragon has arrived, and he poses a great threat to this world, and all others. Only you can defeat him... If you fail, then we are all damned. Vash, can you kill your brother? Can you take one more life, to save everyone else?"
Vash: "Why does it always have to be killing? Can't there be some other way?"
Alpris: "Hesitation, means death.... you must kill or be killed, beyond that I can tell you no more."
Vash: "That's all you can tell me, that if I don't kill someone, I will die? Where is Haryusa? How do we find him?"
Alpris: "The time will come. Your meeting can not be avoided, but that day is not yet here.... you have time... spend it wisely, for the end shall come, and I pray that you will be the saviour I have forseen. Wolfwood, rejoin your comrades.... they will need you in the coming battle."
Wolfwood: "I was going to do that anyway."
Alpris: "Go now, there is much for you to do, and I imagine there is some....catching up you guys wish to do."
Meryl: "And that's it? That is all you dragged us down here for? Well, that was a waste of...."
Vash: "Come on, let's go."
Meryl: "What?"
Wolfwood: "He said let's go, as in we are leaving."
Wasting no time Wolfwood, and Vash stand and walk towards the exit, Quickly followed by Bounty and Millie. Meryl stubbornly remains sitting, obviously not done with her ranting. The other four however left, and began walking towards the exit, not wanting to be left behind, Meryl decides to follow, running quickly to catch up.
Meryl: "Hey wait for me!!!!"
----Flash Forward----
At the truck the five regroup. Vash, Meryl, and Millie all stare at Wolfwood. Bounty just looks idly back and forth between the two groups... finally getting bored and sitting in the truck instead.
Vash: "It's good to see you again."
Meryl: "This is the first time I have ever talked to a dead man."
Wolfwood: "Being dead isn't very pleasent....."
Millie, overcome by joy, grabs Wolfwood and hugs him.
Millie: "Mr. Wolfwood I'm so glad that you're not dead! Don't ever die on me again, if you do I won't be very happy with you, ok?"
Wolfwood: "Ok, I'll try and stay alive this time for you.....Ok?"
Millie: "Thank you."
Meryl: "Well.....we better get back to town.... before it gets too dark....."
All: "Right"
----Flash Forward----
Back at the hotel, Vash takes Wolfwood aside. While the three girls head off to their room.
Wolfwood: "What do you want Vash?"
Vash: "I think you left something behind..."
Opening the door to their room, Vash points to the corner, which is dominated by a big canvas covered cross.
Wolfwood: "I suppose you've borne this cross long enough......"
Vash: "Welcome back old Friend."
**** End Chapter 2****