Disclaimer: I still don't own Trigun. Happy? Happy.
A/N: I GOT MY SITE UP!
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Engel: Sacrifice
Chapter Sixteen
The Cry Of The Mountain
'Hello, is there anybody out there?
I'm alone hanging by a thread
Everywhere around the world
Everybody's waiting for someday
Calling out around the world
Maybe someday might be tonight?
Hook me up'
-Bon Jovi (Lyrics from Hook Me Up)
"Almost done," Vash said as he began to wrap the bandage around Meryl's arm. "That wasn't so bad now, was it?"
"It hurt like hell," She grumbled. "But thanks anyway."
"No problem," He said as he tied off the bandage.
Meryl pulled her arm back and rolled down the sleeve of her trench coat. "So what do we do now?"
"Well, judging from our distance from the top of this cliff…" Vash looked up. "Which seems to be a few dozen feet up, I suppose that we'll have to climb."
"You still want to climb? Why not look for another way back up the mountain?"
"Because that will take too long. Besides, do you see any other ledges around here?" Vash turned and lowered himself to one knee. "Climb onto my back."
"I hate making you carry extra weight," She said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and he stood up, adjusting his weight with hers as she locked her legs around his waist.
"I would make you climb yourself, but you'll tear the stitches," He said as he reached for the first foothold. "And don't think that I'm letting you this close to me because I want to. I really don't have a choice."
"And the same goes for you too," Meryl agreed. "If I had a choice, I wouldn't have brought you along."
"I guess that makes us even." He grunted as he grabbed hold of another protruding rock above him.
Though her anger rang true in her voice, Meryl couldn't help but feel a little saddened by Vash's icy words. She clung onto him tighter and nuzzled her face into his cloak. 'I missed you,' she said to herself.
"That's almost all of them," Celestia said as Demonte handed her the Torcoph. "Now, we need to find the Rezith."
"That one is going to prove most difficult to find." Demonte said. "I doubt that it would be here so let's try up the mountain a little bit further."
"Is that one rare?"
"Yes, and it only grows in dark musty places. Such as caves, mines, or in between certain rocks."
"How do you know that there would even be such a place on this mountain?"
"I don't, but we'll have to try, right?" Demonte stood up and brushed the dirt from his cloak and continued forward. "After all, aren't we in this to save Jessica?"
"Hey…?" Celestia followed after her companion. "Since when have you become a nice caring guy? You're always telling me that nothing matters but your mission." Demonte stayed silent. "Oh come on Dem! What's the ulterior motive?"
"You mean you haven't read my mind lately?"
"You told me to give you some privacy when it comes to your own personal affairs. I'm just doing what I was told."
"Ha! That's a first."
"That hurts you know," Celestia acted crush. "But seriously, what's the deal?"
"I'm only out to do this so that we can get back on track. Our real mission is to get to Roklen, remember?"
"Oh shoot, Dem," Celestia sighed as she scuffed her foot against the ground. "Do you really intend on involving these innocent people in your business with Granus?"
"I'm only out to bring Vash the Stampede to Roklen."
"You want for him to help you against the Alchemists and the I.T.F.?"
"The rumors, Celestia, the rumors. If I can get him to use his true powers to side with Hell's Mafia and destroy Granus, then there won't be a need to involve Meryl and the others."
"But you know that there are past connections between them all. They aren't going to part just for your agenda, right?"
"That's why I told him that Knives is behind Hell's Mafia. So far, my plan is working perfectly. If I lead them there, it won't necessarily be to put Meryl and her friends in danger, it's only because I need Vash the Stampede's help."
"I sure hope there aren't any casualties due to your lack of planning." Celestia said, barely above audibility.
"There won't be," Demonte said sternly. "I'm not an all out killer, you know."
Demonte was stopped dead in his tracks. Twigs snapped in the distance, and pounding footsteps had disturbed the vegetation…Pounding footsteps? Celestia and Demonte found themselves in the mouth of a dark and damp cave.
"What's wrong?" Celestia asked…a little TOO loudly.
"Quiet!" Demonte hissed and turned his head back towards where the noise had come. "You don't hear that?"
"What?" Celestia whispered.
"Listen," He commanded. Not a moment later came the abrupt slithering across the plains.
Celestia gasped and clamped a hand over her mouth. "Is it that beast again!?"
"No," Demonte said, pulling Celestia into the cave with him. "It's something else…"
They hid themselves in the darkness of the cave, running further and further into the corridors of the stone walls. "If we run further into the cave, will it leave us alone?" Celestia asked, breathing heavily.
"Don't ask me, I'm not the beast."
The two finally halted in a clearing and doubled over to catch their breaths.
"I…I don't…hear him…anymore," Celestia heaved.
"Keep your guard up," Demonte warned. "You never know when that beast will be back."
Turning his head, Demonte caught the vivid outline of a small stream running through the cracks in the cave walls. "I think we might be getting closer," He said. "Where there's water, there are bound to be Geo Plants nearby."
"Then let's follow it and get the hell out of here. I don't want to run into whatever was following us."
Demonte followed alongside the stream as Celestia kept her distance with caution. She looked over her shoulder every few seconds, just to make sure that nothing scary was sneaking up on them. She slowly stuffed the Geo Plants inside of her dress.
The corridor led them around a corner and down inside of the cave. Demonte's hand was still lit with a blinding light as he used it to help them maneuver around the cave.
The stream began to grow wider until it formed into a small lake in the middle of a cavern. Moss and many varieties of plants hung from the walls, giving it an odd look of decoration.
"Do you think that we'll find the plant in here?" Celestia inquired.
"There's only one way to find out," Demonte said, stepping towards the moss-covered walls. "We'll have to start searching."
He began to scrutinize the plants, examining each one closely.
"What does it look like?"
"Well," Demonte bit his bottom lip. "This one I'm not sure about, but I read in a book somewhere that a Rezith Geo Plant shimmers when the roots are torn."
"Wow," Celestia said, fascinated. "Maybe it's like it's crying or saying goodbye or…"
"Yeah, yeah, sure," Demonte interrupted. "Either way, I'll just pluck every Geo Plant I see and see which one shimmers."
"But what about all the other plants?"
"What about them?"
"Well," Celestia paused. "You're taking their life and it will be all for nothing if you don't use them…"
"Celestia, they're just PLANTS." Demonte rolled his eyes. "And I don't want to hear another word. Let me find the Rezith all right?"
"But—"
"NOT another word." He repeated. She fell silent and lowered her head.
"Well," Vash said as he pulled his body over the cliff. "That was quite a climb." Meryl crawled off of his back unwillingly and rolled over onto her back. Staring up into the foggy night she sighed. She missed the warmness she had felt from holding Vash.
"Now comes the hard part. Where do you think those two ran off to?" Meryl looked over at Vash.
"Celestia and Demonte?" Vash asked.
"Know anyone else on this mountain?"
"Besides the monsters lurking about?" Vash stretched his arms high above his head. "Nah."
Meryl used the last of her momentum to swing herself to her feet and then turned. "I don't think that they could've gone to find the Geo Plants. I mean, do they even have any experience with Geo Plants?"
"Demonte probably," Vash responded. "He seems like he knows a lot."
"Yeah, maybe so," Meryl said, rubbing her chin. "I don't know the first thing about that guy, much less his own face."
"Well I doubt that they've climbed back down without us, so there's nowhere left to go but up."
Vash started back up the mountain path with Meryl close behind. They hadn't made it very far when a blood-curdling howl rang into the sky. Meryl stopped.
The ground darkened as a huge body leapt overhead and landed on the ground fiercely. The ground rumbled and ruptured beneath the animal's massive form. Vash and Meryl fought to keep their balance as the animal snared at them.
"I-Isn't that the same beast that attacked us from before?" Meryl asked, fear overcoming her.
"Uh-huh…" Vash merely bobbed his head up and down, his eyes glued on the huge black beast.
"It looks like a wolf…" Meryl said, backing away from it.
"Don't move," Vash hissed. "It'll pounce for sure!"
But it was too late. The beast leaned back on its hind legs and leaped over the duo. It landed only inches away from Meryl. Spinning around on her heel, she was greeted with a large black nose protruding from a furry snout. Her knees quaked and she reached for her Taurus. Vash's eyes widened and he pushed the gun back into her holster.
"Don't kill it!" He commanded.
"Well, what do you want me to do, let it eat me!?" Meryl hissed.
The beast took this as an open opportunity as it snatched Meryl up in its mouth and carried her up the mountain.
"What the!?" Meryl noticed that the ground had suddenly become inches away from her face. "Put me down!" She ranted and raved but the beast would not assent.
Vash watched, horrified, as the beast, began a mad dash up the mountain path. He finally regained his senses and followed it.
"VASH!" Meryl screamed. "GET ME DOWN FROM HERE, NOW!"
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" He sprinted faster.
"Did you hear something?" Celestia asked.
"…No, why do you ask?"
"I just thought I heard a voice…that's all."
"It's probably your imagination," Demonte said, not taking his eyes away from the plants.
"But what if it was Meryl or Vash? What if they're in trouble?"
"They can handle themselves," Demonte said, unconcerned.
"Dammit Dem! I'm so sick and tired of your 'I-don't-care-' attitude! Why can't you just—"
Celestia immediately became at a loss for words as she saw a shadow appear on the cavern wall. Then her body began to move and feelings overwhelmed her. She charged towards Demonte and pushed him into the water. "Watch out!" She cried.
"What the—" SPLASH!
Celestia turned and was greeted by a swarm of vines, tying themselves, and her, to the wall. Her arms were contained above her head and the rest of her body was bound and tightly held in place, making it impossible to move around freely.
"Damn, wrong person," The shadow emerged from the shadows and Celestia barely made out his face. He snapped his fingers and the room became alit with torches on the cavern walls.
His thick curly black hair made his face invisible to Celestia. The brown cape tied around his neck swayed slightly as he turned to the water. "You're on my property," He said, licking his lips. "And I don't like trespassers."
"You…" Celestia squinted her eyes at him. "You're a hermit."
"Exactly. I thought that my little pet would've kept you out, but I guess that you two managed to sneak past him."
"You're using the Geo Plants for your own sick and twisted reasons! You created that beast and these vines." Celestia's eyes darkened. "Now all that's left is the question of how you've come to succeed in accomplishing that."
"Who told you that?" The man gritted his teeth. "Someone's been telling you about these things, haven't they? What else have they told you?"
"Of course…the water! You've been dumping hazardous chemicals into the water and it's affecting the entire mountain!"
"I don't know who the hell has been telling you all of this, but I suggest that you quit while you're ahead."
"Now the mountain is under YOUR control! So that really wasn't a Forbidden Beast at all…" Celestia turned her full attention to the man, and spat, "Just what gives you the right to tamper with Mother Nature!?"
"Enough!" The man clenched his fist together and the vines began to wrap even tighter around Celestia. Her face scrunched up with pain as the circulation to her body had been cut off.
He smiled and released the tight-hold on her. "Yes, I suppose you're right. The mountain is under my control. I found this mountain some time ago. I used to be a scientist, studying in one of the greatest cities in the world. When my plan of conquest had been turned down, I was banished, forever to remain isolated and live my life in misery. Once I found this mountain and all of its glory, I dubbed it mine. As you can see now, this is MY kingdom, and I don't take lightly to people stomping on my land."
"But this isn't your land!" Celestia objected. "It belongs to the planet, not to you!"
"Silence! Or do you wish to see what this kingdom of mine can REALLY do?"
From under the water, Demonte began to slowly emerge to the top, reaching for his revolver. He poked his eyes over the surface and submerged once again into the water.
"This is MY kingdom. And for your lack of cooperation and for your big mouth, I will have my loyal subjects attend to you."
Slowly stepping from the water and out of sight, Demonte rolled over onto his stomach and cocked his gun.
The man laughed as more vines began to squeeze themselves through the cracks in the cavern walls. Thorns pushed through the surface of the vines and deadly flowers bloomed from within the thorns.
"These are my personal favorites," The man sneered. "The poisonous part of these Geo Plants reside within the flowers themselves. There is no stopping the poison once it enters your bloodstream and eats away at your heart. These plants LOVE to consume humans…"
Celestia tried her hardest not to breathe as flowers began to bloom from the vines that had captured her.
"They shoot the venom from the inside of the flower and into the human; just like a doctor who gives his patient a shot."
Celestia watched as the flower below her neck began to vibrate and ready itself to inject her with the poison. She bit the inside of her cheek and closed her eyes tightly, waiting for the pain to come.
Then a gunshot sounded and the flower was destroyed. The vines quickly became much more alive and retreated into the cavern walls. Celestia was set free and she fell to her knees. Looking up, she saw Demonte's outstretched arm from behind the man. The hermit turned, and was met with a foot in the face. He was flung backward and Demonte twirled his gun around his index finger.
"Now that wasn't a very warm 'hello', mister," Demonte said smoothly. "Would you mind telling me what you're doing?"
"Who the hell are you!?" The man demanded.
"Your worst nightmare." Demonte said as he aimed the gun at the man's temple. "Now tell me, where can I find the Geo Plant, Rezith?"
"Why would I tell you that!?"
Demonte tightened his finger on the trigger. "I'm running out of patience. Now tell me where I can find it."
"Bite me," The man growled.
"All right, have it your way," Demonte said.
"Wait!" Celestia jumped in front of the man. "Don't kill him Dem!"
"Celestia, just what do you think that you're doing?"
"Don't kill him." She repeated.
"Are you crazy? He just tried to kill you!"
"But…it's not right."
"Celestia, get the hell out of the way. I don't have time for this."
The man snickered soundly as his body began to morph.
"Listen," Demonte said irritably. "You don't know what you're talking about. Now stop defending him and move!" Demonte's eyes darted upwards as a large shadow loomed over Celestia. "A demon?" Demonte whispered.
"What?" Celestia turned and shrieked. "WHAT IS THAT!?"
"Get back!" Demonte yanked her arm towards him. "I'll take care of it."
The demon roared and leaned backwards, ready to hurl a stream of fire at them.
"You don't know when to quit, do you?" Demonte said as he pulled the trigger on the gun. The bullets bounced off the demon's body and Demonte smiled. "Guess we'll play this the hard way."
Demonte jumped into the air and aimed his arm, like a gun, at the monster. His arm began to illuminate with a bright light, building up energy, until it exploded into a pillar of destruction, destroying the demon. The body blew apart, like a balloon with too much air. Dark blood coated the ground and cavern walls, and then melted away like acid.
"Demonte…" Celestia whispered.
"It was just a demon," Demonte said, smoke still lingering at his arm. "Hardly worthy of my time. Are you okay now?"
"Yes…T-Thank you for saving me." She said, her heart still pounding. "I suppose that his own experiments were what turned him into that monster…"
"Actually," Demonte said, leaning down to pick up something that Celestia couldn't see. "It should be me thanking you."
Celestia was taken aback at his words. "Oh…um…you're welcome." Smiling she watched as he handed something to her.
"It's the Rezith. He had it with him the whole time." Turning back towards the direction they had come, he said, "I've always heard that Rezith was a powerful plant anyway."
"Yes, so we have all the plants now, right?"
"Yeah, let's go and find the others."
The beast stopped in mid-run on the mountain path, Meryl still in his clutches. With no master to control him, the beast had become abeyant. He began to sway from side to side as his eyes drooped and he tilted towards the cliff edge.
Vash halted behind the monster, unsure of its behavior. Meryl looked up at her abductor, also curious as to what its intentions were. When she saw that there was none, she began to scream.
"HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" The beast then lost consciousness and fell over the cliff's ledge.
Vash dove to the beast's side and reached for Meryl, but seized only air. He watched in horror as the two fell deeper into the abyss of darkness.
Then he saw another figure jump over the cliff and swing himself on a single tree branch growing from within the mountainside. His hand shot out and grabbed Meryl's ankle. They both hung in mid-air, neither saying a word. And then Vash recognized Meryl's rescuer.
"Demonte!" Celestia clutched her friend's arm and tugged. Vash regained his senses after a moment and helped.
"Demonte?" Meryl said, hanging upside-down. "What are you doing here?"
"What? Am I late?" He grunted as he was pulled back over the cliff. Meryl shook her head to clear out the dizziness and looked at Demonte.
"Thanks," She smiled. "But now we have to get the Geo Plants.
"That's already taken care of," Celestia grinned and gestured to her hands.
"But…how?" Meryl asked.
"I have my own knowledge of Geo Plants," Demonte said and looked at Vash, who didn't seem to be sharing the excitement his companions were.
"What's wrong, Vash?" Celestia asked.
"Nothing," He said. "Well, if our business here is done, then let's head back to Mordeh."
He was already starting down the mountain.
"What's wrong with him?" Celestia turned to Demonte.
"He's probably upset because he didn't get to play hero," Meryl shrugged.
"Well if he had wanted to, all he needed to do was ask," Demonte said.
"Don't let it bother you," Meryl waved it off and followed after Vash.
"But I still have to warn you."
"You can't really warn me about anything if you don't even know what you're warning me about."
"How's your hair?" Knives changed the subject.
Vash paused. "Well it's not good."
Vash brought a hand up to his hand and pulled out a strand of black.
That's right, Knives…it isn't good. It hasn't been in four years…
But what had made him think of this now?
Well, this chapter hadn't exactly gone to plan but I did like the Vash/Meryl parts in it. ^_^
Tell me what you think and as always, R&R!
BLD