A/N: Thanks to Mistress of Darkness, Bloody Mary, Ana, Infinitis, Nagryal,
and all the others below for reviewing! I love it, keep it coming!
Sakura Shinguji-Albatou: *also pats on her head* Good job :D. And yes, I wanted to get at him at a different level, I was thinking that Dilandau could have a very different character at night. More calm, possibly serene. Now what I want to know is where you're getting this they're brother and sister thing, though I can see why they'd be connected like that. But no, Allen is Celena's brother, Dilandau is her love interest. I wouldn't make things /that/ weird.
Geniusgirl; The Original: Thank you! *attempts to blush* For your question, they're meeting a bit before the movie begins, probably not over a year before. Basically Hitomi hasn't gone to their world yet, but the war has started.
Wink57CS: Thanks for reviewing! And I'm glad you noticed that. I was trying to show why Celena would be able to love him so easily, and how she understands him and sees him differently than your regular person. I was a bit worried I went at it the wrong way, but you've quenched my fears :D Thanks again!
Ryuu Angel: Yay! You started reading it, I was waiting for you :D I suppose it does have a silvery quality to it... I'm glad you like it so far. Thanks!
The lady winged Knight. S: Alright, alright, I'll update the other one too. But I must admit I like this one quite a bit more. Sorry that this doesn't suit your tastes, but thanks for reading anyway :D
Sand3: Yes lovely quoting :D I'm glad you like it! I've read a bit your Dilandau/ Folken 'Mask of Insomnia', I'll admit, so I got excited for some reason when I saw you had reviewed. I promise I'll review your fic, I just didn't have the time before! Just thought I'd let you know it's high on my list. Thanks for reviewing :D
Disclaimer: Yes, it's true, despite popular belief, I do not own Escaflowne. -._-*
' ' ' ' ' ' ' 'Moonchild: The Deception' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
I knew. I knew what had conspired between the boy and my child. I knew what would happen that next day. I imagined my villagers would question Celena afterwards, why had I not told them? Why had I kept my knowledge to myself? Could I have saved them? They would have to trust Celena for the rest of their lives, they should have understood now was the time to start. My people would never see me again. I gave Celena a curt nod, and she understood like she always did, the way she always seemed to know. Her powers were to be applied. Everything I had taught her, everything, it was all for what would precede in the next few hours, before the sun lit the sky. The time when she would work best.
I met the brigade at the front, before their attack. I was what they wanted, I knew. My stroll was uneventful, the forest quiet in the early morning, apprehensive. The almost calmness fell like shadows over my face. Dashina was in a shallow valley, easily viewable from a certain space along the rim of the rift. They had found their way there, after much plotting and searching. The army awaited for the signal to begin their destruction. A man stood with his head bowed but his shoulders slacked. That was when I first met him.
He was much like my child's Dilandau, pale skinned and hunting for power. I concentrated on his sick grin when he saw me approach them. The shadows still covered my glass face. He knew I was the mage of the town. I gave myself to them willingly, I gave them no need to attack my village. I called him Lord and he took me without a second glance. "Destroy the town", were the first words I heard from his lips. His warriors flew into battle to kill my people even though they would gain nothing from it; he loved to ruin that which was created. He loved the smell of destruction, of others sorrow, fear, and pain. I told him my name, and he smiled the way he always had since he had forgotten what love was; his whole face contorted, his eyes looking crazed. "You and I will destroy the world Sora. It will end our pain"
I looked out over my city, watching it burn and hearing people scream. The ground was soaked with blood and the air was thick with a black smoke that made me choke and others gasp for breath. I looked sadly out over my home. I would miss Celena, my child. She had done an excellent job, though no one could ever know. I knew I was never to lay eyes on her again. The moon pooled its light over this scene, almost as if all of its beams focused on my home.
I regarded my Lord stoically, listening in my mind to his earlier words. I sighed. My poor Folken-sama.
' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
To an outsider's eye, the village of Dashina that day was massacred. None would be able to believe the bloodshed. The air was rank and smelled of burning flesh and the blood of those dead, the smoke making one's eyes water, and their lungs swell and contort. Their mouths would have become dry and burning with salt, the taste of what they inhaled tortured their throat and insides leaving them gagging. It was enough to make one vomit. The worst were the sounds of terror, the blood-curdling screams that echoed, crying and sobbing, each one more terrified than the next, the pain inflicted on these people reverberating through the forests.
Celena thought she'd done quite a good job. Maybe a bit exaggerated, but she was proud of her overachievement. It didn't matter though, as long as her people were safe and the army of soldiers believed they were destroying and killing a village of people. She had lead her people farther back into the forests, where they could safely hide. She had eagerly prepared the night before, excitement pumping through her veins. She had placed a large pot that had been molded in her village in a clearing in the forest, quite a few yards in front of Dashina. The army would reach this destination before her village. The pot was all she needed to trick them.
She created a shield; they saw her village, they destroyed her village, and they killed the people of her village. It was all an illusion though, simply made by her recreating her Dashina in her mind, allowing the soldiers to believe it was the real thing. The pot from the town created a connection from Dashina's actual location to the clearing. Celena smiled as she used the moon and its stone to cast shadows and illusions; smells, sights, and tastes all mirages of the truth. The darkness easily played tricks on the soldiers' minds. She could feel the moonstone radiating power from within her self. She took great enjoyment in her own ruse, letting each nameless person scream louder than the next, easily convincing the soldiers. Secretly she hoped Dilandau would enjoy the slaughter she had gave to him, that it had made him feel alive.
The villagers all tightly held their few belongings close to them. The people of Dashina were not those filled with greed and did not care strongly for simple possessions, but the few objects they valued they cherished with all their hearts. Hence why they had felt obliged to carry one or two with them while fleeing. It had hindered very few as they had ran panic stricken through the forest to safety. Many still calming themselves, they observed the young girl that sat beneath the branches of a large tree, her brows furrowed in concentration. Sweat trickled down her neck and back and her white dress clung damply to her frame. Her knees were folded in a cross-legged position and her hands were balled into fists against her chest instead of in prayer. They had been woken early to her call; she had made them spring awake with her mind, wishing for urgency and silence. Those that valued their lives followed her; Sora had advised it, so they all had decided to trust the girl. All had found their resolutions breaking down and the girl inching her way into their hearts.
She was powerful, they could see this by her accomplishments. She could keep them safe. Celena would lead them and most accepted this after many silent hours watching the young girl before them. Many clasped hands in hope of a bright future, in hope that the world would survive the war that would soon come. After one day had passed and the army had receded, the pale girl turned and smiled beautifully at them and laughed. "All done", she said, and got up and began walking back to the real Dashina.
' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Dilandau lazily rode his horse at a slow trot along with his band of newly assigned soldiers. He would be the leader of these Slayers. He smirked delightfully. He would control them, make them do whatever he wanted. He loved the power. He was even more powerful than a regular human, he mused to himself. Of course he was only part Dragon kin, but he was superior to most and that was all he needed for now. He chuckled to himself lightly. This had been a most wonderful day.
Attacking the small helpless town had been more fun than he ever could have imagined. Slicing off heads, legs, arms, ears even, just to draw out the pain. Cutting a person from shoulder to torso, watching the blood spill from their gaping bodies, their faces contorted in shock and pain. How he loved to hear them scream. How he loved the smell of blood covering his hands and soaking into the ground. The bodies limp and faceless in the mud, the ground still wet from the earlier rainfall. The village now a grave.
The rainfall. Ah yes, the other reason why his mood had peaked. That lovely pale creature of the moon with her beautiful face and curving body. He had been walking in the forest after becoming restless earlier that afternoon, that's when he had seen her in the clearing near the waterfall. In the full moonlight she had stood, the beams glistening on her skin like she was part of it, part of the creamy mystical surface of the moon, part of the its light, part of its glow. He wouldn't have been able to resist her even if he had tried. She was a temptress though she was oblivious to this fact.
He had been awed by her, kneeling in the stream, praising the moon it seemed for its beauty, something he loved and praised as well. The night, the moon, things he had never shared with anyone before in his life. He had to take her, that quiet, wide-eyed girl. She had not been afraid of him when he had approached her. Had not flinched away from his red eyes or his armour, or even his touch...
That cavern that was her mouth. He wanted to explore it, taste it; he wanted more and he wanted her. 'Think of me when it rains...' Oh, and he would always think of her when it did. How could he forget that moon goddess? He grimaced remembering how easily he had let her slip away, not even catching her name. The only thing he knew was that she was a moonchild, just like him.
Dilandau smiled. Maybe he could go back and find her one day, claim her and take her with him. He wanted to share the night with her and take her wherever she wanted to go. "Hey! Chesta!"
Chesta, a psychic who was one of his soldiers, turned and looked back at him. "Yes Dilandau-sama?"
"You know that village we destroyed? Did there happen to be any others around there?" Dilandau had heard Chesta was familiar with this area.
"Any around there? No sir, that was a strange people they were, strongly believed in magic and their mages. That's why they took to living so far into the forests away from other places. They lived off the land mostly, never got many things from the outside world I've been told"
Dilandau's eyebrows creased. "So if I ran into anyone in that area...-"
"They would have had to be part of the village", Chesta chuckled after this. "They'd be long gone now sir, we left no survivors remember? They were taken completely off guard so no one could have known, except for the mage of course, but she seemed quite accepting with the idea that her village was going to-"
"Chesta, shut up"
Dilandau continued riding, his jaw now tight in anger, images of a certain blonde girl being slaughtered swirling around in his head and behind his eyelids.
' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
A/N: I took soooo long to update this, I know, but after this, as many of you may be pleased to know, I will also update TtRH. Soon. Hopefully. I'll try. I haven't been able to concentrate on this since Christmas when I received a certain *cough* DVD *cough* (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN) *cough*
Aye, so anyways, considering I haven't stopped watching that movie for the past few weeks it's been hard getting this work done (God I love that movie). I'm trying to come up with a stable plot for this because it keeps changing in my mind but I think I have something down. I always want to write a long chapter and then I never do.... Oh well, I try. Yay! Stuff leading into the movie has happened! Aren't you excited? I am! (Aye! Seeeaaa turtles!)
Please do review. I love it! :D
And thanks to my lovely beta Cat.
Sakura Shinguji-Albatou: *also pats on her head* Good job :D. And yes, I wanted to get at him at a different level, I was thinking that Dilandau could have a very different character at night. More calm, possibly serene. Now what I want to know is where you're getting this they're brother and sister thing, though I can see why they'd be connected like that. But no, Allen is Celena's brother, Dilandau is her love interest. I wouldn't make things /that/ weird.
Geniusgirl; The Original: Thank you! *attempts to blush* For your question, they're meeting a bit before the movie begins, probably not over a year before. Basically Hitomi hasn't gone to their world yet, but the war has started.
Wink57CS: Thanks for reviewing! And I'm glad you noticed that. I was trying to show why Celena would be able to love him so easily, and how she understands him and sees him differently than your regular person. I was a bit worried I went at it the wrong way, but you've quenched my fears :D Thanks again!
Ryuu Angel: Yay! You started reading it, I was waiting for you :D I suppose it does have a silvery quality to it... I'm glad you like it so far. Thanks!
The lady winged Knight. S: Alright, alright, I'll update the other one too. But I must admit I like this one quite a bit more. Sorry that this doesn't suit your tastes, but thanks for reading anyway :D
Sand3: Yes lovely quoting :D I'm glad you like it! I've read a bit your Dilandau/ Folken 'Mask of Insomnia', I'll admit, so I got excited for some reason when I saw you had reviewed. I promise I'll review your fic, I just didn't have the time before! Just thought I'd let you know it's high on my list. Thanks for reviewing :D
Disclaimer: Yes, it's true, despite popular belief, I do not own Escaflowne. -._-*
' ' ' ' ' ' ' 'Moonchild: The Deception' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
I knew. I knew what had conspired between the boy and my child. I knew what would happen that next day. I imagined my villagers would question Celena afterwards, why had I not told them? Why had I kept my knowledge to myself? Could I have saved them? They would have to trust Celena for the rest of their lives, they should have understood now was the time to start. My people would never see me again. I gave Celena a curt nod, and she understood like she always did, the way she always seemed to know. Her powers were to be applied. Everything I had taught her, everything, it was all for what would precede in the next few hours, before the sun lit the sky. The time when she would work best.
I met the brigade at the front, before their attack. I was what they wanted, I knew. My stroll was uneventful, the forest quiet in the early morning, apprehensive. The almost calmness fell like shadows over my face. Dashina was in a shallow valley, easily viewable from a certain space along the rim of the rift. They had found their way there, after much plotting and searching. The army awaited for the signal to begin their destruction. A man stood with his head bowed but his shoulders slacked. That was when I first met him.
He was much like my child's Dilandau, pale skinned and hunting for power. I concentrated on his sick grin when he saw me approach them. The shadows still covered my glass face. He knew I was the mage of the town. I gave myself to them willingly, I gave them no need to attack my village. I called him Lord and he took me without a second glance. "Destroy the town", were the first words I heard from his lips. His warriors flew into battle to kill my people even though they would gain nothing from it; he loved to ruin that which was created. He loved the smell of destruction, of others sorrow, fear, and pain. I told him my name, and he smiled the way he always had since he had forgotten what love was; his whole face contorted, his eyes looking crazed. "You and I will destroy the world Sora. It will end our pain"
I looked out over my city, watching it burn and hearing people scream. The ground was soaked with blood and the air was thick with a black smoke that made me choke and others gasp for breath. I looked sadly out over my home. I would miss Celena, my child. She had done an excellent job, though no one could ever know. I knew I was never to lay eyes on her again. The moon pooled its light over this scene, almost as if all of its beams focused on my home.
I regarded my Lord stoically, listening in my mind to his earlier words. I sighed. My poor Folken-sama.
' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
To an outsider's eye, the village of Dashina that day was massacred. None would be able to believe the bloodshed. The air was rank and smelled of burning flesh and the blood of those dead, the smoke making one's eyes water, and their lungs swell and contort. Their mouths would have become dry and burning with salt, the taste of what they inhaled tortured their throat and insides leaving them gagging. It was enough to make one vomit. The worst were the sounds of terror, the blood-curdling screams that echoed, crying and sobbing, each one more terrified than the next, the pain inflicted on these people reverberating through the forests.
Celena thought she'd done quite a good job. Maybe a bit exaggerated, but she was proud of her overachievement. It didn't matter though, as long as her people were safe and the army of soldiers believed they were destroying and killing a village of people. She had lead her people farther back into the forests, where they could safely hide. She had eagerly prepared the night before, excitement pumping through her veins. She had placed a large pot that had been molded in her village in a clearing in the forest, quite a few yards in front of Dashina. The army would reach this destination before her village. The pot was all she needed to trick them.
She created a shield; they saw her village, they destroyed her village, and they killed the people of her village. It was all an illusion though, simply made by her recreating her Dashina in her mind, allowing the soldiers to believe it was the real thing. The pot from the town created a connection from Dashina's actual location to the clearing. Celena smiled as she used the moon and its stone to cast shadows and illusions; smells, sights, and tastes all mirages of the truth. The darkness easily played tricks on the soldiers' minds. She could feel the moonstone radiating power from within her self. She took great enjoyment in her own ruse, letting each nameless person scream louder than the next, easily convincing the soldiers. Secretly she hoped Dilandau would enjoy the slaughter she had gave to him, that it had made him feel alive.
The villagers all tightly held their few belongings close to them. The people of Dashina were not those filled with greed and did not care strongly for simple possessions, but the few objects they valued they cherished with all their hearts. Hence why they had felt obliged to carry one or two with them while fleeing. It had hindered very few as they had ran panic stricken through the forest to safety. Many still calming themselves, they observed the young girl that sat beneath the branches of a large tree, her brows furrowed in concentration. Sweat trickled down her neck and back and her white dress clung damply to her frame. Her knees were folded in a cross-legged position and her hands were balled into fists against her chest instead of in prayer. They had been woken early to her call; she had made them spring awake with her mind, wishing for urgency and silence. Those that valued their lives followed her; Sora had advised it, so they all had decided to trust the girl. All had found their resolutions breaking down and the girl inching her way into their hearts.
She was powerful, they could see this by her accomplishments. She could keep them safe. Celena would lead them and most accepted this after many silent hours watching the young girl before them. Many clasped hands in hope of a bright future, in hope that the world would survive the war that would soon come. After one day had passed and the army had receded, the pale girl turned and smiled beautifully at them and laughed. "All done", she said, and got up and began walking back to the real Dashina.
' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Dilandau lazily rode his horse at a slow trot along with his band of newly assigned soldiers. He would be the leader of these Slayers. He smirked delightfully. He would control them, make them do whatever he wanted. He loved the power. He was even more powerful than a regular human, he mused to himself. Of course he was only part Dragon kin, but he was superior to most and that was all he needed for now. He chuckled to himself lightly. This had been a most wonderful day.
Attacking the small helpless town had been more fun than he ever could have imagined. Slicing off heads, legs, arms, ears even, just to draw out the pain. Cutting a person from shoulder to torso, watching the blood spill from their gaping bodies, their faces contorted in shock and pain. How he loved to hear them scream. How he loved the smell of blood covering his hands and soaking into the ground. The bodies limp and faceless in the mud, the ground still wet from the earlier rainfall. The village now a grave.
The rainfall. Ah yes, the other reason why his mood had peaked. That lovely pale creature of the moon with her beautiful face and curving body. He had been walking in the forest after becoming restless earlier that afternoon, that's when he had seen her in the clearing near the waterfall. In the full moonlight she had stood, the beams glistening on her skin like she was part of it, part of the creamy mystical surface of the moon, part of the its light, part of its glow. He wouldn't have been able to resist her even if he had tried. She was a temptress though she was oblivious to this fact.
He had been awed by her, kneeling in the stream, praising the moon it seemed for its beauty, something he loved and praised as well. The night, the moon, things he had never shared with anyone before in his life. He had to take her, that quiet, wide-eyed girl. She had not been afraid of him when he had approached her. Had not flinched away from his red eyes or his armour, or even his touch...
That cavern that was her mouth. He wanted to explore it, taste it; he wanted more and he wanted her. 'Think of me when it rains...' Oh, and he would always think of her when it did. How could he forget that moon goddess? He grimaced remembering how easily he had let her slip away, not even catching her name. The only thing he knew was that she was a moonchild, just like him.
Dilandau smiled. Maybe he could go back and find her one day, claim her and take her with him. He wanted to share the night with her and take her wherever she wanted to go. "Hey! Chesta!"
Chesta, a psychic who was one of his soldiers, turned and looked back at him. "Yes Dilandau-sama?"
"You know that village we destroyed? Did there happen to be any others around there?" Dilandau had heard Chesta was familiar with this area.
"Any around there? No sir, that was a strange people they were, strongly believed in magic and their mages. That's why they took to living so far into the forests away from other places. They lived off the land mostly, never got many things from the outside world I've been told"
Dilandau's eyebrows creased. "So if I ran into anyone in that area...-"
"They would have had to be part of the village", Chesta chuckled after this. "They'd be long gone now sir, we left no survivors remember? They were taken completely off guard so no one could have known, except for the mage of course, but she seemed quite accepting with the idea that her village was going to-"
"Chesta, shut up"
Dilandau continued riding, his jaw now tight in anger, images of a certain blonde girl being slaughtered swirling around in his head and behind his eyelids.
' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
A/N: I took soooo long to update this, I know, but after this, as many of you may be pleased to know, I will also update TtRH. Soon. Hopefully. I'll try. I haven't been able to concentrate on this since Christmas when I received a certain *cough* DVD *cough* (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN) *cough*
Aye, so anyways, considering I haven't stopped watching that movie for the past few weeks it's been hard getting this work done (God I love that movie). I'm trying to come up with a stable plot for this because it keeps changing in my mind but I think I have something down. I always want to write a long chapter and then I never do.... Oh well, I try. Yay! Stuff leading into the movie has happened! Aren't you excited? I am! (Aye! Seeeaaa turtles!)
Please do review. I love it! :D
And thanks to my lovely beta Cat.