A note from Phnx: Thank you for all your wonderful reviews! Here's the next chapter! I actually posted this chapter before. But it just wasn't to my liking, so I took it down almost immediately and did some revising, at the time it was also much to short, so here it is! Longer, and hopefully better! Enjoy!
I don't believe in fate. I don't believe in destiny. I don't believe in god. I don't believe in much of anything actually. It's not because I don't want to... It's because I can't. I just can't bring myself to believe that some higher power actually wanted the world to turn out the way it is... and if there is someone out there, that created the blue prints for the messed up universe we live in. I hate them. I really do. And if for some strange reason they planned for my life to turn out this way, I'm gonna kill em' once I got my hands on em'.
And as soon as the room stops spinning.
I blinked repeatedly, squeezing my eyes shut for a few seconds before opening them again and squinting at the blades of grass next to me. A moment passed where it seemed like the world paused.
"Fuck!" I shot up, bounding to my feet then clutching my side. I hissed in pain, looking around franticly. "Ok... Ok." I chanted, pulling my hand away from my stomach only to realize it was smeared with blood. "Ok!" I squeaked. Pressing my hand against my wounded stomach to stop the bleeding.
"Ok..." I took a calming breath. "Where the hell am I?" I took another good look around.
Well, it's certainly not the Hallow... Unless they did some major redecorating.
My heart felt like it was about to beat out of my chest. I turned in a slow circle, leaves and dry grass lying atop the soft soil cracked under my bare feet, tall majestic trees surrounded me, and a small pond that seemed eerily calm could be seen a few meters away. "Ok."
Yes, your Ok, can we please move on... Great, now I'm talking to myself. Think Mya! What the hells goin' on?
"I've finally lost it..." I whispered to myself. Curling my toes into the loose ground I was standing on. "I'm probably wrapped up in a straight jacket somewhere, pumped so full of sedatives that, I think I'm in the middle of a forest, with no socks on." I shuddered, taking a few stiff steps towards the pond where the light from the moon was shining brightest.
"Fuck!" Once more I was falling head over heals, subsequently scratching my legs on a particularly sharp tree root sticking out of the ground. I lay there for a moment with my eyes closed, concluding that that stupid root was the cause of my bleeding stomach. Musta landed on it when I... fell? ... This is nuts. Where am I? How'd I get here?
Slowly I opened my eyes, glancing up as I moved to stand. My body froze. I tilted my head toward the sky ever so slowly, hoping against hope that I hadn't seen what I thought I saw.
My eyes finally looked skyward, and that's where they stayed for quite some time. Staring at the two moons hanging in the sky. Yep, now I know I'm Insane.
"Well don't just sit there!" I barked, slapping the pilot in the back of the head. "Set in the damn course!"
"Sir... we really shouldn't stray from our original cou-"
"I'm more than capable of flying this ship." I growled at the captain who had turned around in his seat to look at me. I smiled in satisfaction as he nodded, comprehending the threat in my words, and silently communicating to his co-pilot with a hand signal to set in the new course.
We landed not long after, setting the ship down in the trees where it would be sheltered from view if anyone happened to fly over head.
The ships hatch slid open, before I stepped out side I turned around. "You two." I snapped, gaining the attention of the two Dragon Slayers. "Look for anything suspicious, do not harm the target unless I give the order." I looked back and forth between them. "Is that understood?"
"Ay Sir!"
We wove through the trees, swiftly and silently. I couldn't help but admit that I was slightly impressed with the two slayers accompanying me. They couldn't be distinguished from the other natural sounds of the forest, if the night creatures weren't being unusually quiet, I probably wouldn't have heard them at all. They'd been trained well so far. But they're nothing compared to those who came before them. Before... back when the Dragon Slayers hadn't been just mercenaries, or elitists, they'd been brothers in arms. My brothers.
I glowered at the thought. This was not a time for reminiscing. I had a mission. That beam hadn't been seen in 4 years. That had been the day Hitomi Kanzaki had returned to the mystic moon. Had the brat dared to return? A twisted grin flittered across my face. One can only hope. I thought maliciously.
I heard a twig snap, then the rustling of movement. Immediately I stopped, leaning into a tree so that I wouldn't be seen.
"Ugh!" The frustrated scream was quiet, but considerably close. I started moving again, this time at a slower pace. My Dragon Slayers had appeared at my side I gave them orders to surround the target.
The target soon came into view. It turned out to be a girl, she was on the ground leaning back on her elbows, her neck craned up, looking at the moons.
"Bloody concussion," she muttered furiously. "Bloody, fucking, fuck." She flopped onto her back, then sat up suddenly, looking as alert as ever.
I'd heard something... I knew I heard something. I laughed incredulously, stopping short and wincing at the pain in my side. "Brilliant." I hissed. I let out another considerably harsh but justified string of words. Moments ago I'd looked up at the sky to find I was seeing double. The thing was, the moon was the only thing I was seeing double of. Looking at my hands I still had 8 fingers and 2 thumbs. Looking at the rocks that were clutched in my hand, there were only 3 of those. But look up at the sky, was there one moon? Nope, you guessed it, two of the damn things were up there. And now I was hearing things. Brilliant.
Everything around me had fallen quiet, only the sound was my ragged breaths disturbing the unnatural calm. Something was out there... I could just feel it.
"Hello..." I ventured turning my head towards the trees and squinting at them in an attempt to peer through the darkness. "Is anyone out there?" Curse my voice for sounding so afraid. I thought as my voice quivered.
The sounds started again, coming closer with every passing second. I quickly got to my feet and backed away from the trees, not stopping until I reached the sandy edge of the pond a few feet away from its shallow depths.
What the hell is that? My mind went into panic mode as a form became visible, slowly coming into the open.
"Who are you?" The voice was deceitfully soft. Scenarios started playing through my head, this man could be potentially dangerous, he could be here to help. He could be a figment of my imagination. Quipped a voice somewhere in my head. I hushed it and ignored his demand, asking a question of my own.
"Where am I?" If I was insane, I damn well wanted to know what my wonderland was named.
There was a sigh of annoyance. Soon after two more men appeared from the trees. I tensed, unconsciously preparing to defend myself. This wasn't looking good.
"Everything will be explained soon, come with us." Said the same voice, the two who had just appeared advanced on me and I found myself knee deep in water as I bolted out of there reach.
"We mean you no harm." Stated one of the two. "My name is Feris Thyme, we wish to help you." He stopped at the waters edge.
"Where am I?" I hissed, rolling the rocks that were still clutched in my hand between my fingers.
"You questions will be answered in due time, if you co-operate and return with us to our ship willingly your time here will be much more enjoyable for you." Said the man standing next to Feris, his condescending tone making him sound as though he was a kid who'd gotten his ass kicked many times during his time at prep school.
"Find a fence post, stick it up your ass, and rotate!" I barked, snapping my attention back to Feris I practically growled at him. "What do you want..."
I would have rolled my eyes, had I not been so utterly infuriated. This wasn't Kanzaki, and I had been looking so forward to scaring her into an early grave. This was however, someone from the mystic moon. She'd jumped away from the slayers as they'd approached, splashing though the water and not stopping until its surface reached her knees. Why was it that women needed to be so damn stubborn?
"Find a fence post, stick it up your ass, and rotate!"
This time I did roll my eyes.
The two slayers looked at one another in confusion.
"For Christ's sake." I crossed my arms, glaring past the two men standing at the edge of the lake. "Listen girl, you can walk on your own, or we can drag you kicking and screaming, either way your coming with us." I stated simply.
Silence.
"Get her." I ordered. The two military trained men rushed forward, the girl stumbled back and fell only to be hauled up again.
"Hey!" she cried indignantly. "Fuck OFF!" They were blurs in the darkness. Moving forms whose features were darkened by the moonlight shining down on them. There was a thwack and the sharp sound of breaking cartilage. "Son-of- a Bit-"There was a splash, then another, and finally the sound of someone tumbling onto the sand.
I walked forward slowly, coming to a stop when I stood over the small body that was certainly not one of my slayers. She coughed, rolling onto her side and spitting out water. Slowly she looked up at me. Wet hair slid across her face, and even in the shadows of the night you could see brilliant dark eyes glaring defiantly.
The slayers were soon back on their feet and approaching cautiously. One of them holding a hand over his nose. She looked over her shoulder, huffing slightly. "I knew I shoulda killed myself." She collapsed with a dull thump, passing into unconsciousness. Leaving me to think about her comment... and of a suitable punishment for the two idiots who had gotten their asses' kicked by a girl, a mystic moonling at that.
Night passed into morning, and morning passed into afternoon, then once again the sun began to set, it was as this time that my eyes opened, staring in confusion at my surroundings. Immaculate white walls surrounded me. The sound of wind howling made me jump. Now I sat, appearing quite meek to anyone who would happen to look upon me. Sitting in the middle of a soft bed, with the crisp white sheets pulled up around me. What was with all the whiteness?
I wouldn't date move off the bed. I didn't know how much time I'd spent, just sitting there. Staring around the room, trying to get a grip on what was happening to me. I wasn't insane. I kept repeating it over and over in my head like a mantra.
I looked up, squinting at the orange and gold rays of sunlight that broke through the clouds that had previously covered the skylight. I'd been trying to figure out how high you had to be before you reached the first layer of clouds in the sky... but to no avail.
What is going on? I wanted to cry, and scream, and curse at the top of my lungs. I wanted to hurt something, someone. I wanted to hurt myself. Just to make sure I was real, that this whole experience was real.
I pulled the covers tighter around my shoulders. Hiding deeper in the soft folds of what felt like a feather filled duvet. At least I was comfortable... My free hand slid underneath the white cotton tank top I was wearing, moving across the area where there should have been an injury... It was gone. I was on the verge of a nervous break down. I felt detached from my body, I knew I was moving, rocking back and forth, I was thinking thoughts, but it seemed foreign, like my brain was speaking another language. Does a crazy person know there crazy? I wondered.
There was no humor in the question.
"So what do you propose we do with it?" General Valry leaned forward, looking at me mockingly from his seat at the oval shaped table located in the tactical room.
"I propose we keep her here. Interrogate and observe her. We can't let her go, she's already seen the slayers. Even if she doesn't know what they are, it would still be dangerous to allow her to go free."
"We could kill her." Suggested Mira, one of my more enthusiastic subordinates. Her feminine demeanor hid the evil within, I'd never met a woman more ruthless than her and I'd never met a person better than her.
"She lives. No one is to harm her in any way unless I order it. Is that understood?"
A chorus of Ay Sirs was heard from the 10 people in attendance. Valry remained silent. Which wasn't a surprise. He was a general. In theory he was my equal. In reality he was further below me than a blade of grass. One could say that we didn't get along well. I would say that the bastard wouldn't hesitate in stabbing me while I slept, if he had the chance.
"What use is she to Zibach? She'll be nothing but a hindrance. A potential threat. The Fanallians or one of their Allies will get word of her arrival. No doubt the light that brought her here was spotted by others. We'll be the first ones they go looking for.
"No doubt." I agreed. Many others nodded as well. "She could prove useful at some point. We will convene at another time to discuss her once again. For now she will remain under my watch. Next order of business." I was growing irritable. We'd been in conference for nearly 2 hours now. Discussing various topics. All of which led back to the girl we'd found the previous night. So far the Vione had skillfully avoided any questioning from the Alliance about the incident. I would deal with that later, right now there were more important things to think about.
"Have the sorcerers kept their schedule?" I looked expectantly at Valry.
"They're being rather difficult." He replied, annoyance creeping into his voice.
"Difficult?" I inquired.
"They've told me that if we don't meet their demands they'll destroy all the work they've completed." Valry's jaw clenched. "The little bastards are going to cause a mutiny if we don't stop them immediately."
"Mira, speak to them, get their list of demands, and tell them to do their god damn job before I pay them a visit personally. Valry, you and your troops are leaving for the capital tomorrow, correct?"
Valry replied with a nod.
"Mira, you will take over the monitoring of the Sorcerers, and all other duties that were previously held by General Valry. You may delegate your current duties to whomever you see fit. As for the rest of you, do what you're supposed to do or face the consequences. We will reconvene in three days at the same time. Meeting adjourned."
The sound of chairs scraping across the cold metal floor was heard briefly, everyone filed out of the room quickly, Valry sending a loathing glare over his shoulder as he went. Mira remained seated, rocking the chair onto its back legs.
"So, when do we start training." She asked.
"We do not start training. The Dragon Slayers, which you are no longer involved with, started training this morning." I smiled in sarcastic sweetness when she hissed at me.
"I've ran their training sessions for the past 6 months. You could use my input. I know them." She stood.
"I've got their files." I dismissed what she said with a wave, "Don't you have somewhere to be? Get out of my sight."
"Ay Sir." She saluted, glaring all the while, then turned sharply and marched out of the room.
I didn't want to get off the bed. It was like being 7 years old and being afraid that once your foot touched the ground the monster under the bed would grab your ankle and drag you under it. You wuss. I hissed silently. If I wasn't crazy before, I was sure as hell getting there. There were no windows except the sun light above my head. No doors, just smooth white walls. I was trapped. This couldn't be come kind of asylum could it? The thought crossed my mind may times. The more I though about it, the more uncomfortable I became.
The sound of a shoe meeting the floor startled me from my thoughts. I spun around on the bed.
I know you. Silver hair, barely an inch long caught my eye. I remained silent, as I looked him over, watching his movements at the same time. Red eyes. He walked closer, staring at me with the same calculating gaze I was giving him. Well built. He stopped a few feet from the side of my bed. Dangerous.
"Who are you?" I asked. How'd you get in? I took a quick glance around, still unable to fine a door of any sorts. I shifted away, slowly climbing off the bed to stand on the side opposite of where he was standing.
"General Dilandau Albatou. Of Zibach."
I stared at him critically. "No shit." I muttered to myself. "Where am I? Zibach?"
He arched an eyebrow, looking calm, and almost bored. It was pissing me off.
"You are on the planet Geae, specifically, you're on a Zibach ship traveling to our capital city."
Well that's nice. I smiled tightly. "Greaaat. Just bloody peachy." Insane. Totally insane. If I ever see the Hollow again, I'm burning it down. Add pyro to the list Doc.
I rolled my eyes, then ran my hands over my face. Mumbling to myself about all the idiotic turns my life was taking.
"You're not hallucinating." He stated after catching part of my ramblings. "Geae is perfectly real."
I laughed. Giving the general a half smile. "Welcome to wonderland..."