T R I G U N

The two suns rose into the sky, signaling the beginning of morning. May City came to life, bustling with activity as its people went about their daily lives. 165 years ago, it had been a small saloon town. But now the noise could be heard a mile away, for May City was known not only for its incredible size, but also for its entertainment.

Ellie adjusted her sunglasses and sped up, riding the sands on her black motorcycle. It had been 165 years since she had been found by the Maxwell family. Now the people who had raised her were dead and gone, their grandchildren now grown and having children of their own. Wind whipped through her short red hair, a refreshing feeling under the hot twin suns.

Everyone knew Ellie Maxwell in May City, and so when she returned she was greeted with both friendly and hateful looks. Tall and amazingly beautiful, she was a legend--she had lived longer than anyone else alive, yet she looked like she was barely twenty-one years of age. She was both an outlaw and a hero, welcome to May but unwelcome almost everywhere else.

She slowed down and ignored the suspicious looks some of the May residents gave her, nodding at those who recognized her, smiled, and waved. She had memorized every twist and turn of the streets.

At last, she was home. She passed the Loca Tavern and parked behind the place, placing her trademark black hat on her head. She slung her violin case over her right shoulder and strode inside to the dim bar, and when she entered everyone looked up.

"Well," a man said with a smirk, looking up from a poker game and taking a cigarette out of his mouth. "If it isn't everyone's favorite bad-ass."

This statement was not far from the truth. Ellie wore leather high-heeled knee boots and tight brown cowpants. Her trenchcoat came down to her mid- shin, thick enough to keep her warm at night but light enough to keep cool in the scorching hot desert afternoons.

Ignoring the laughter and the looks, Ellie approached the bartender and took off her sunglasses, revealing a pair of dazzling blue eyes. "Hey, Jaq."

The older woman smirked in greeting, handing her a cold beer. "Welcome back, Ellie. What lured you out and what brings you home?"

"I've got a price on my head." Ellie muttered, sitting down.

"How much?"

"About 45 billion double dollars." Ellie estimated, taking a slug of her beer.

"Nice."

"It is until you've got a bunch of rag-tag bounty hunters watching your every movement."

"I thought you were a bounty hunter, Ellie."

Ellie smiled. It had been a long time since she could honestly relax. "A girl's got to make her living."

"I'll say. You're welcome here for as long as you need, as always. Are you going to play for us tonight?"

"If you're willing to fix me a nice meal." Ellie said with a wink.

"Will do."

"Thanks, Jaq."

"No thanks needed, hon. Now go and shower."

Ellie tipped her hat, nodding. "Yes, ma'am."

It was evening when Ellie finally emerged from her room. Her violin case at her side, she slowly walked down the stairs from the inn into the tavern. Music was merrily playing and drunk men were singing along offkey. She smiled to herself and shook her head, heading towards the bar. Jaq greeted her with a nod and placed a plate of sizzling food in front of her.

Ellie ate her food silently, watching from the corner of her eye as onstage a few beer-bellied men attempted to dance to an upbeat tune. After she had finished, she gestured to Jaq. "Thirsty?" Jaq asked. "What'll it be?"

"Just water."

Jaq paused, watching Ellie levelly. She then nodded. "All right."

She handed Ellie a large glass of water. Ellie drank it down as if it were nothing. She then slid it back. "More."

Jaq sighed, as if this had happened before. "Coming right up."

Ellie finished it off in less than a minute, pushing it back. "More."

"There you go."

"More."

The saloon quieted down, and all watched as Ellie drained thirty glasses of water. After she had finished, she stood up and stretched. "My God," someone whispered, "she's like some damned cactus."

"I don't know how you do it." Jaq said, shaking her head.

"I lost my water on my last trip." Ellie answered quietly.

"What did you do, then?"

Ellie hardly acknowledged the old man that addressed her. "I did the only thing I could do," she answered, tipping her hat. "I went without water for three weeks. Goodnight, Jaq. Gentleman."

After she had gone, everyone murmured among themselves.

"She's not human. No one could drink that much."

"No one could go for three weeks without water, either. Not on this planet."

"It's all a fake. Probably just some show. Right, Jaq?"

Jaq smiled a little. "Oh, Ellie isn't a show. She's the real thing."

"How do you know?"

Jaq recalled near fifty years ago, when she was but a little girl. Ellie had come to May and had helped her family in harsh times--and Ellie had been just as beautiful and as young then as she was now. She served the men more drinks and smirked. "I just know."

---

Ellie loved humans far too much to put them in harms way; for as she had been drinking, she had also been watching very closely. A man had been standing in the corner, waiting for her. The moment she stood up he had whispered to a nearby shady companion and had followed her when she left the tavern for the now dark and dangerous back alleys of May City.

Ellie frowned, keeping her pace and stride steady. She was sick of running, sick of being pursued--why was it so hard to live in peace? She sighed, fondling a silver pistol that she kept at her hip, hidden under her trenchcoat. She was not afraid of taking lives, but preferred sparing them.

She saw the shadows of the men following her. There were five of them, all armed with rifles and Tommies. Pushing her hat down so that the brim hid her eyes, she shoved her hand in her pockets, singing to herself quietly.

"When Irish eyes are smiling, Sure 'tis like a morn in spring, In the lilt of Irish laughter, You can hear the angels sing.

O when Irish eyes are smiling, All the world can seem so gay, And when Irish eyes are smiling, Sure they steal your heart away."

She turned to her followers. They froze, as if they were afraid to make a movement. She shrugged in an almost flirtatious manner, smirking. "If it's a chase you want, lads," she said with a wink, "well then, that's what you'll get."

---

Vash the Stampede stared at the moonlight sadly as he rested on a far off cliff, overlooking the shining city of May. It was a place he had not seen in a long time, at least 40 years. He never stayed in one place long, and no matter how peaceful he tried to be, whenever he tried to settle down the people he had grown to love ended up being killed.

He lowered his eyes to the ground. It had been 165 years since he and his brother had come to this barren sand planet, and during that entire time he had wandered from place to place, searching for any sign, any hint of the girl he had once loved.

Vash tried to smile, shaking his head. No, he still loved her, but he had given up on finding her long ago, accepting Knives spiteful words. She was dead. If she had lived the explosion of the ships he would have found her by now. But whenever he was alone--which was often--he would think of her.

Vash stretched his limbs and groaned. He had gone without a comfortable bed for months, now. Surely there was some place in that city, out of the way of everything, where he could have his own....luxurious....

Vash slapped his face, trying to stay awake. His entire body ached. "What I wouldn't give for a back massage." He muttered, rising to his feet with a sigh. "Here goes."

---

Ellie leapt around a corner just as the bounty hunters opened fire. "Get back here, Mustang!" They shouted, running after her, but they could hardly keep up. She was faster than anything they had ever seen, able to just barely dodge their bullets.

Ellie raised her fingers to her lips and whistled. Several window shutters opened and children peered out from their rooms. Almost immediately, they knew what to do, disappearing from sight.

"Keep up, fellas!" Ellie taunted, leading them through the maze-like city she knew so well.

"What the--?! Where the hell is she going, the crazy bitch?!"

"Who cares, if you want that money just run!"

"What's wrong, boys, belts too tight for those bellies?"

"Why you--!"

Ellie laughed brashly as she turned left, throwing all but one of the bounty hunters off. He fired, and she leapt into the air, landing on a trash bin in a catlike position beside him, her pistol to his head. He swallowed. "Want to die?"

"Shoot already." He growled.

Ellie shrugged. "All right."

She lowered her pistol and shot his foot. He fell to the ground, writhing in pain. "You damned bitch--"

"Tsk tsk," Ellie wagged her finger at him, "watch the language, sir."

"HEY!"

Ellie shot through the alleyways, ducking away from their line of fire. "Damn, that stings," she muttered, rubbing her ear where a bullet had nicked her.

They lost her at a dead end they had never seen before, a single abandoned garage before them. They chuckled and twirled their guns. "We know you're here, Ellie." One said with a cocky grin. "So come on out."

A rock flew into the air and hit him squarely between the eyes. He danced around, howling. "Ow! Me eyes! I'm blind!"

"Hey you, stupid men!"

The bounty hunters turned. There, standing between them and their way out, was a mob of children, all of them holding rocks or baseball bats--some even had rocks. "You leave Aunt Ellie alone!"

"What the hell is this?" One said in disbelief. "What is this chick, some sort of pied piper?"

A engine revved from inside the garage. The bounty hunters backed away, swallowing. "Uh oh . . ."

---

"Man, I'm famished." Vash muttered, plopping down on a chair in front of the bar. Jaq smiled and handed him a glass of water.

"Hard day?"

"You said it," Vash muttered, draining the glass in seconds. He hardly noticed as a scantily clad girl came into the saloon, greeting the gambling and drinking men with seductive looks and offers. The show-girl noticed him and touched his shoulders lovingly.

"How about it?" She whispered into his ear, batting her long black eyelashes.

Vash did not even seem aroused by her suggestion. "No thank you." He said levelly, taking another drink. Indignantly the girl stalked off in hopes of finding more willing customers.

Jaq was astonished. "No appetite for love, eh, stranger?"

Vash snorted, uninterested. "Can I have some more, please, ma'am?"

Jaq shrugged. "Sure."

Glug, glug, glug. Jaq watched him curiously, and then pulled up a chair. "All right, start talking."

"What?"

"What are you, some sort of celibate priest?" Jaq asked skeptically. "No one says no to Tasha. She's good at what she does."

Vash cocked an eyebrow. "I don't doubt it."

"That's right, and she brings in good money." Jaq lowered her voice and handed Vash a plate of food. "So the way I sees it, you're either a priest or a eunich, so which is it?"

Vash laughed a little. "Neither, actually."

Jaq paused and then poured them two mugs of beer. "You like girls?"

"Oh yes, definitely." Vash nodded.

Jaq smirked. "Then why are you trying to run me outta business?"

Vash sighed, hesitant to talk about it. He had never told anyone about what had happened 165 years ago. "It's complicated."

"Try me."

"Well . . ." Vash took a deep breath. "I fell in love. Once." He drifted off, his gaze distant. "A long time ago."

"What happened to her?"

Vash did not answer, gesturing to his empty glass. "Can I get some more water?"

"I do charge money for this, you know."

"Oh don't worry, I'll pay." Vash reassured her.

"All right, here you go."

Vash drained glass after glass after glass. Jaq stared wide-eyed. "You'd better knock it off, sonny, or you're going to kill yourself."

"Nah," Vash shrugged, ignoring the looks he was getting. "I do it all the time."

After 35 glasses, Vash sat back, giving a contented sigh. "Thanks a bunch, ma'am, that really hits the spot."

"My God," a gambler muttered, eyes bulging, "he must be her long lost twin or something."

"Well, you definitely set the record." Jaq said, giving Vash an odd look. "Even Ellie can't drink that much. She draws the line at 30."

Vash's weary eyes snapped open and he almost lost his balance. "What?"

"Oh, I get it." Jaq lowered her voice. "You must be one of those immortal folks, eh? One of those human-like cactus thingies?"

Vash blinked. He had never been called a cactus before. "Repeat the name you just said."

"What. Cactus-thingies?"

"No, before that."

"Ellie?"

"YES, Ellie." Vash said, his tone suddenly very serious. "That's the one. Ellie who?"

"Oh come on, everybody knows Ellie." Jaq said casually.

"Ellie Graham?"

"Never heard that one before. Most people around here call her 'The Mustang.'"

"Ellie." Vash muttered. His heart was beating fast and his legs were shaking. Jaq noticed. "Something wrong?"

"Nothing." Vash answered, trying to control himself. "No, it couldn't be her."

"Why?" Jaq smiled. "Oh, I see. And what was the name of this love of your life, back so long ago?"

Vash swallowed. "Elaina Maria Graham."

"Well well." Jaq said, resting her elbow on the counter. "What do you know. A love story in the making. Well, stranger, you'd better believe it because that's her name. Elaina Maria Iduna, anyway."

A new-filled hope and excitement filled Vash's heart. He could not believe it. After 165 years, perhaps she was alive, after all. "Where is she?" He begged, making quite a scene at the counter as he fell on his knees, clasping his hands together. Jaq raised her eyebrow. "Aren't you the drama queen."

"Please, I gotta know!" Vash said, his eyes irresistibly big.

Jaq shrugged. "She just went out the door."

"W-what? Well, where did she go?"

"Downtown, probably." Jaq said idly, as if all of this had happened before. "Dodging the usual May City punks."

Vash gasped. "WHAT?!"

---

In an explosion of wood Ellie appeared, mounted on her black monster of a motorcycle, her hat thrown back. With a free hand she brought out a long rifle and loaded it with a quick arm movement. "This is the part where you all go home." She said quietly.

"I think not."

Dozens of guns cocked. Ellie looked up as more then 30 men appeared on the rooftops, their weapons pointed down directly at her. She gritted her teeth. How stupid am I? I can't believe I fell for this...

"Any last requests? A prayer, a plea for mercy perhaps?"

"Don't kid yourself." She snarled.

"Just trying to put a little drama into the mix." A man stepped forward. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is--"

"Prowler Schtolen." Ellie said in disinterest.

"You've heard of me?"

"No." Ellie said levelly. She could see Schtolen's narrow facial features-- his high cheek bones and his almost cat-like eyes. He resembles his great- grandfather, she thought, but she said nothing.

"We're gonna be rich!" The other bounty hunters whooped. The children cowered around Ellie, watching the men on the rooftops uneasily.

"Not before you get the kids out of here."

"A fair enough request." Schtolen fired his gun in the air. "Beat it, you little twits!"

The children scrambled out of sight, but when Schtolen looked down again, Ellie was not there. "What the--?!" He panicked. "Where'd she go? Find her, you morons!"

"I'm right here, fellas."

Schtolen froze, and turned. There stood Ellie on the rooftop, her two twin silver pistols out and ready. She tsked. "You're going to have to be faster. Otherwise you're never going to get that money."

"You bitch." Schtolen snarled. "You have to die."

"Why?" Ellie asked calmly. "What did I ever do to you?"

He scoffed. "Like you don't know."

"No actually, I don't." Ellie answered, pausing. "I've killed enough men to make a mountain, all of them were murderers and thieves--who tried to kill me first. So I'm curious to why there is a bounty on my head, and why you fine young gentleman are wasting your time."

She fired so fast no one could blink, and before any of them could react their guns toppled to the ground, out of reach. Several of the others dropped their weapons and ran, leaving only Schtolen and a few frightened men.

She leapt down from the rooftop and onto her motorcycle, driving away. "Later, fellas."

"Let's go--!"

"Wait." Schtolen held up his hand, smirking. "We're not finished yet."

---

Vash could not believe it. He ran through the city streets, unsure where to look but knowing he had to start somewhere. Although often he was the one being pursued, he was an experienced tracker.

A poor, homeless old man noticed his search and coughed. "Have ye turned bounty hunter now, Vash the Stampede?"

Vash turned to him and although he was not able to recognize him, he smiled faintly. "Hey there." He said quietly.

"Who is it that ye are looking for?"

"A woman. Her name is Ellie."

"Elaina Iduna." The old man said. "Ah yes, the Mustang. You just missed her."

"Did you see her?" Vash said hopefully.

"She took her motorcycle and headed East. Good luck catching up."

"East." Vash muttered, desolation overcoming him. I've lost her. She's alive, and I lost her. I don't know where she's going . . .

He narrowed his eyes in determination. But I have to try.

---

Ellie cranked up the speed and shot through the May City streets and into the open desert, tears in her eyes. She could not stay there anymore. The children whom she loved had been endangered, and it seemed like everyone wanted her dead. Without a plan and without money, all she could do was run. She gripped the motorcycle handles hard. She had been doing it for years, and she could do it again.

The cold desert wind whipped at Ellie's face, and once she was at a safe distance from the city she went faster. "It's all right, now," she told herself. "Everything's going to be--"

Her motorcycle skidded, and Ellie lost control, tumbling into a deep hole. She hit the bottom with a thud, her head and body aching from the impact. "What the--"

Five faces peered down at her. "Too bad, so sad, Little Miss Mustang."

"Make yourself comfortable down there--we'll be back to getcha in the morning."

"Even she can't jump out of that."

"Have a nice night, Ellie! Hahaha!"

"Damn it . . ." Ellie groaned, standing up. The hole was far too deep for her to get out by herself. She sighed, and sat down. The only thing she could do now was wait.

---

"45 billion double dollars in that hole, gentlemen!"

"Haha, we gotta celebrate! The drinks are on me, fellas!"

Vash saw the group of bounty hunters coming and froze. One of them was pulling along a motorcycle, while the others sang and laughed like drunkards. They could see him now but they had not slowed, or recognized him. They stopped long enough to look at him.

"Hey, you, what's your problem?"

Vash chuckled flatly. "Oh, heh heh . . . nothing. Just out for a little stroll." He took in a deep breath of fresh air for emphasis. "So, 45 billion double dollars? Strike oil, or something?"

"Hell no."

One laughed. "We just caught one of the biggest May outlaws of this time! You should be thanking us--we just made the streets safer, eh, guys?"

Vash smiled a little at the bumbling bounty hunters. "Really, well, congradulations!"

"Thanks a bunch, haha--she won't be able to do anymore damage."

Vash looked at them in sudden interest. "She?"

"What are you, an idiot?"

"No, I'm just not from around here."

"Oh." Schtolen blinked, and then came closer. He tried putting his arm around Vash's neck, but he was far too tall. "She's called 'the Mustang.' She's so fast that no one has been able to catch her. But we did."

"How?"

"Whaddaya mean, how?" Schtolen cackled. They had already been drinking; Vash could smell it. "By being smarter than that bitch is, of course."

"I see. Well, congradulations, fellas." Vash said cheerfully, waving as they passed.

"Watch your step there, stranger," Schtolen laughed as they continued towards the city. "Wouldn't want to fall in a hole now, would you--HAHA--"

Vash really did not understand what was so funny. He stood there for a while, contemplating what they meant, and then shrugged it off, concentrating on the bigger problem at hand. They had caught Ellie and had hidden her somewhere, and now he had to find her.

"All right," he said under his breath. "The whole knight-in-shining-armor gig. She'll love that. What a reunion--whoa!"

Vash stopped and caught his balance just in time, for in front of him was a large hole. It was so deep it must have taken at least fifteen men to dig it. He regathered himself and brushed himself off. "Man, those bounty hunters weren't kidding." He cupped his hands over his mouth. "Anybody down there?"

He saw movement, and then from within the shadows he saw her face. His breath caught in his throat and he swallowed down hard. There she was, there was no mistaking her. "Ellie?" He managed to speak, but it came out in a whisper.

Ellie stared up at him coldly. "Who are you?"

Vash almost said his name but then realized she did not recognize him. "I'm here to get you out."

"Oh, good." Ellie said in relief. "I was beginning to think this was really it." She dug around in her pack and tossed up rope. "Hold onto that, and I'll climb out."

Vash smiled. Ellie was obviously well prepared. He tightened his grip on the rope and threw it back down to her. "All right, the sides are too smooth, you won't be able to climb up. Hold on, and I'll pull you." He paused. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah."

Vash summoned up all of his strength and pulled his hardest on the rope. He had no trouble at all. "She's so light," he murmured, imagining what it would be like to hold her in his arms again.

"Hey, what's going on? Are you going to pull me up, or what?"

"Oh." Vash cleared his throat. "Sorry. Sorry!"

Ellie was in his reach now. He held out a free hand to her and she grabbed it, gaining her feet. She went forward in order to gain her balance and made Vash nearly lose his, but he caught her in his arms. Tears welled up into his eyes. "At last."

Ellie blinked. Whoever this man was, he was acting very strange. His arms were tight around her and he sounded like he was crying. She patted his back. "Uh, I'm glad I'm out too. Thanks."

Vash was hurt. He pulled away from her and stared at her. "Don't you recognize me?"

Ellie blinked again. She did that a lot. "No."

"Ellie," Vash touched her cheek lovingly. "It's me."

She pushed his hand away, scowling. "Look, man, thanks for the help, but I think you've been out in the sun for too long."

She tried to walk away but Vash stepped in front of her. "Ellie." He said gently. "Look at me."

Ellie did. His hair was a golden blonde, except for two black streaks on either side, and it stood straight up. He wore a red trenchcoat and had deep green eyes, with a small black marking on his left cheek. Something she found rather odd was that he was taller than she was, and she was very tall for a woman. Few men were able to pass her in height.

"You don't recognize me?" Vash said, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Nope, sorry." Ellie said, shaking her head. "Listen, thanks again, but I gotta go." She brushed past him and stomped. "Damn it, they have my motorcycle."

A single tear slid down Vash's cheek. "Elaina." He brushed it away and stared at the sky. "Elaina Maria Graham."

Ellie stopped in her tracks, and turned. "What did you just say?"

"Graham is your last name, isn't it?" Vash whispered.

Ellie's eyes narrowed and she stalked towards him. "How do you know that?" She demanded, getting in his face. "Nobody knows that except--"

"Vash."

Her eyes widened and she took a step away from him. "What?"

"It's me, Ellie." Vash said with a faint smile.

"T-that's impossible." Ellie sputtered, turning away. "Vash is dead."

"No I'm not! I'm right here!"

"You're just some damn look-a-like, that's all you are." Ellie snapped. "I don't know where you got that information but don't you ever mention it to anyone, otherwise I will hunt you down and make you wish you were never born."

Vash gazed at her gently, hurt by her words. "I've been wishing that for a long time, until now."

"Get out of here." Ellie snarled.

Vash felt weakness overcome him. He collapsed to the ground and sighed, watching her as she strode away in anger. "You said we'd be together forever!" He called.

Ellie stopped, her heart beating faster than it ever had before. It can't be him, she told herself. She thought she had gotten over him, and had tried her best to forget him and move on, but found that she could never do so. She gripped her fists. It just can't be . . .

Vash laughed a little. "You said we would be together forever," he repeated quietly. "And that I'd be the dad, and . . . heh," he sniffed, "you'd be the mom, and we'd have . . . lots and lots of kids, and live happily ever after." He smiled. "Just like in the stories."

Ellie tried to keep walking, but she was glued to the spot. She turned to him, watching him as he continued. "I wanted to marry you so badly. I told Rem that. Knives laughed at me but I was sure that I would."

"You told me as well, that day when we were seperated." She whispered.

Vash looked up at her and found he was not the only one crying. Ellie's lip was trembling. "My God. It's you."

"Yeah," he managed. "It's me."