The Angel and the Outcast IV
Stepping out of his house, Isaac swore as he tried to kick the wet mud off of his shoes. Staring at the damp ground, he swore at his luck for choosing this date. He did not know how or why the rain had come that night, and he really did not care. It was a minor set-back for his plans, one that would not be the end of the world.
End of the world. He chuckled at that dry thought. For years he had blamed Alex, Saturos, Menardi, and Felix for the near-destruction of the world, only to learn from Felix, Jenna, and Kraden that the world would be destroyed unless Felix completed his mission. Knowing these facts, Isaac was willing to forgive his "foes" of their wrongs, and was willing to work with them.
That is, until they returned home to Vale.
Isaac had learned that his mother's illness had caused her to not be as quick as most to answer the Wise One's call to flee, and when Aleph collapsed, several rolling boulders would have slain her, had it not been for Aaron and Kay's help. According to all accounts he had heard, it was just before the tremors that they heard a voice cry out from the top of the mountains, a voice that demanded the weather obey him. The villagers had been horrified when the voice willed the storms to take out Vale, and were puzzled when nothing happened. Silence was broken when the mountain began to fall, and people sat where they gathered to weep for their lost homes, possessions, and pasts.
It was not until days afterwards that the man responsible for the fears that day appeared, and it was not until he spoke that the villagers lashed out at him, attacking him with whatever they could find. Isaac had been one of this group, blaming Alex for kidnapping Jenna, nearly killing his mother (whether or not he intended to), and attempting to destroy Vale. After Alex had been knocked unconcious, Kraden and Picard had stepped in, demanding that they not take his life. Several villagers, including the loud voice of Garet, had demanded Alex's head.
It was eventually agreed that Alex would be allowed to build his own dwelling if he wished to reside in the rebuilt Vale. Many thought this alone would force him out, and many more maintained that he come near none of their supplies, lest he somehow build a house. Alex had actually approached Isaac for help, and Isaac, not in the best of moods, had kicked Alex hard in the shin.
For the first month, it seemed that Alex would have to leave Vale, but by that point, Isaac could have cared less for him. His time was spent on building his own house and furnishing the ring he would present to the woman who owned his heart. After a hard day's work, he was on his way to ask for her love.
While walking to her house, he noted her walking up a winding mountain hill. Puzzled as to what she was doing, he followed, trying to mask his presence as best he could. After a short time, he saw her present some supplies to Alex, as well as some fruits and vegetables from Kraden.
Unwilling to stay longer, Isaac made his way down. Anger was the foremost emotion in his mind, but he pushed it aside. True, it was somewhat cruel that no one was assisting the Mercurian, but he had asked for it, right? Waiting by her door, he forced a smile as she walked up, asking her the question he had been wanting to ask for months.
She said no.
Swallowing his dissapointment, Isaac walked home, staring into the void. He had not wanted to believe that she would turn him down, but he could not fathom her loving Alex, the man who had kidnapped her from her home.
Over time, Isaac continued to ask for her hand in marrage, and over time, he would recieve the same answer. He had watched her one night as she made her way up to Alex's pathetic hut with food, and watched as she came down. What was it about Alex that made her say no to his proposal? What was he doing wrong? Was it him? What was it that made her love Alex?
Isaac did not know, but continued to keep asking for days. Days became weeks, weeks into months, months became the now. Walking through the damp mud, Isaac wondered how he would ask her this time. For a time, he asked her differiently whenever he proposed. But he could not continue to form up new ways to say it, and eventually tried to find the words that told what he felt, what he wanted to say from the heart.
Maybe it was because his heart was angry with her choice of men that he could not ask right. Maybe it was because Alex had tainted her. Maybe it was because she felt sorry that Alex had no one. Whatever it was, he had to find out, had to tell her of his feelings.
Nearing her house, he heard voices inside. At first, he wondered if the Trio of Ivan, Sheba, and Picard were asking her to join them in their house again, as they had done from time to time. But no, these voices were not of them, but of Felix and...
No. He was imagining things. It was not possible. There was no way she would bring him down.
But he was. Alex's voice could be heard, loud as day.
Freezing in his tracks, Isaac listened to their conversation, hopeful that Felix was trying to convince Jenna to give up on Alex. To Isaac's suprise, he heard Alex and Felix talking directly, asking for forgiveness for wrongs they had done to each other. Isaac shook his head, unsure if he heard right.
Straining his ears, Isaac heard Jenna's lovely voice, heard her asking for Felix's permission. Permission? For what? To have Alex down here instead of on the... No. Isaac knew what she asked, and knew it was futile to try to cloud his mind with alternatives.
She wanted Felix's permission to marry Alex.
Rage filled Isaac. He could not believe what he heard. His being wished to go in there, demand Jenna's heart, and slay Alex for swaying her.
But another part of him was against this. Part of him wished no harm to Jenna, and knew full well that any harm that came to Alex would hurt Jenna. Biting his lip, Isaac was suprised when he tasted blood. So lost in his internal conflict that he had broken skin on his lower lip. Rubbing the blood off, he watched as three figures emerged from the house. One was Felix, followed by Alex, and then Jenna.
And Ales and Jenna were holding hands.
As they closed in, Isaac could see Jenna's face staring at him, her eyes worried and sad. Something told him that she wished him no harm, but worried that he might attack with rage against the man beside her.
Isaac was tempted to do such an act. But he could not.
A roar sounded behind him, and upon turning around, Isaac saw Garet running forward, rage in his eyes. Glancing around, other villagers had appeared, almost as if summoned. Isaac wondered if this gathering had any connections with the odd weather or the missing Three, but put such thoughts away, focusing on Garet's running charge.
As Garet neared, Felix ran forward, only to be slammed aside. Silently cursing, Isaac stepped in the way of Garet's charge, who showed no signs of stopping. Grinding his teeth, Isaac buried his fist into Garet's face, sending the tall Martian backwards, falling to the ground.
All around him were stares and shocked gasps. Isaac was defending the man who destroyed Vale? Isaac hit Garet?! Impossible!
Worry crept over Isaac, worry over what might happen after this day. But he did not care. Whether Jenna knew it or not, Isaac loved her, and would be damned if he let any harm come to her.
As Felix walked up, Isaac motioned for Alex and Jenna to start walking to wherever they were going. The crowds stood aside as they passed, and Isaac had to stare several people down to keep them from lunging at the water Adept.
As they continued to walk, Isaac could not help but chuckle inside. The angel and the outcast. How funny fate could be.
FIN
Yes, this is the last chapter. I had originally written this fic to be a one-shot, and it's amusing that I called it by guessing that it would take four chapters to finish this.
Anyway, to the reviews:
wildcats1310 - Thanks!
TemplarofNi - Thanks!
Phoenix20043 - Thanks!
Forgotten Souls - Hmm, This might actually be the largest review I have EVER gotten, and that's saying something. I appreciate that you bring up so many points, and I like recieving so large a review with this much material. I do NOT think that you are a horrible reader, and I do think there are a few areas that I could have redone. However, most of my works require that the reader read all of the chapters from start to finish to understand ALL of the material present. That's a thing I seem to do quite often... Anyway, thanks!
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