No. Escaflowne not mine *sniff*…
~*~*~*~
Lullaby
v II
~*~*~*~
You said, "Sir…?"
And he said, "Shh…"
And you never looked back, running into the dead of the night. Not even when you heard the howls of the hounds of H*ll coming up behind you… Not even when you heard a strangled scream cut short, your savior lost forever…
He was the father you lost, the mentor you lost, the brother you yearned for… By his side you worked, ignoring all the other black-cloaked demons, because they never cared for you, so you never cared for them. They tried to teach you evil, but you would not be tainted. They tried to kill your spirit, but you would not let death claim your unworthy resurrection…
He showed you the darker shadows of the madoushi, and you were left haunted through the nights. The nameless faces, the innocent tears… You choked and resisted the urge to gag, the thought a confining mantra in your head – that could be Van… that could be Van…
He was your lullaby the first time you let him touch you, bringing you away from that stabbing fear. His voice cut through the blackness shrouding your d*mned soul, his hand warm against your unfeeling steel. You were young and desperate and alone, so you leaned on him. Your guiding light, your eternal song…
Escape. The impossible feat became more and more tangible. The days melted into one darkest night, but you did go free. Only you were left alone, your counselor lying in a pool of crimson life so that you could live. Your lullaby was gone… gone… gone…
The madoushi came. Eventually. But they could not touch you. You were far from invincible, but not all that vulnerable. The emperor would not have your death, so they threatened you to the core of your being. They would thwart your plans, cripple your dreams, dismember your conscience—
So you snapped, righteous rage unbidden. If you were to live the future a heartless monster, then perhaps they would be kind enough to provide you the taste of a human heart. One madoushi lay dead at your feet, his fast-fading heart cradled in your inhuman hand. Thud. Thud. Silence…
They fled.
You grinned.
The lullaby was complete…
~*~*~*~
Turmoil reigns the halls outside your rooms, and you know your brother has escaped. It would not be long now before the Crusade and that d*mned Schezar haul anchor and leave, carrying with them your emperor's prized Dragon…
But your eyes have seen too much, your life much hard. The tears you refuse to weep summed into a single teardrop on your cheek, sorrow everlasting. You would not let your brother stay here… though it is the wish of your cold, cold heart, dead to the world… to him…
The memories of forgotten yesterday return. You hear the softest whisper of the heavens, pleading you to listen. Yes, you will listen… Yes, you will obey…
So you take up the Fanelian Royal Sword and storm out into the axis of chaos, following the beat of your heart, leading you to your kin. You call out to him and he turns to you, eyes narrowing and suspicious. You do not react, only hold out the Protector Blade and let it fall… fall… fall… fall into his hand.
And out of the corner of your eye, you see a young soldier staring. The Stratego letting the Dragon escape…?
Yes…
… yes…
"F-folken…?"
… y-yes…
He'll say, "Sir…?"
And you'll say, "Shh…"
And the lullaby rewrites itself…
~*~*~*~
Aoi Akiko rambles:
This was written by Folken, for Folken…
I'm sorry this isn't as moving as
Lullaby v I (Dilandau), for my mind has yet to haul itself from the gutter
called 'final exams'. All in all, I'd give it a 7/10 compared to v I…
But the idea wouldn't leave me alone, and suffering from Folken-sama
withdrawal symptoms make it all the worst. Really, my muse is one that
should be shot in the head…
I was trying to piece together
his transition between madoushi to Stratego. I know this would be
completely out-of-sync with Escaflowne, but my sadist muse is one stubborn
little thing, pulling my puppet strings. I am a sad author indeed, letting
my muse manipulate me like this…
On the other hand, while Dilandau's lullaby was rather dark… I made
Folken's lullaby a little milder… a little more hopeful… Because *sniff*
Folken-sama deserves some light in his sorrowful, forsaken life…
*blink* Um... review...?
*psst* Akiko is thinking of doing one last one. Between Naria and Eriya. Any comments if Akiko should do so…? (or was this so bad that I should just stop here before I ruin any more characters' lives…?)
