Sunset
The streets of the city were nearly void of all inhabitants loitering about except for the few that wandered through the back alleys of the houses. After cautiously crossing the river that separated him from the Palace, Emmett stealthily crept around the outside fence that separated him from his mask.
His mask!
That blasted fool Armaros had taken it from him at the last possible minute when the Royal Guards and Magic Users had arrived upon their short battle a couple hours ago. It was Emmett's guess that the sorcerer had been imprisoned and blamed for causing the stir within the city, but luckily Emmett had escaped quite easily. Now his mask was somewhere inside the Palace!
Desperate to get it back, Emmett searched around for a way to get inside. Unfortunately the Royal Magic Users still had their barrier up around the walls, so it was impossible for him to use his magic.
Luckily the guards had not seen him as of yet. If Emmett still had the mask within his grasp, he could have used its powers, but now that was impossible. There was only one possible way to get inside the Palace now and for that to happen, he needed someone on the inside to assist him.
"Sharp!" A male voice broke Emmett from his silent musings as he peered through the gated fence before him. He made sure to lower himself into a crouch so as not to be noticed and as he peered inside the gate, he saw two men inside what appeared like a garden.
Emmett watched silently, listening as he scrutinized the two men just beyond the gate. The smaller and more rounded one, whom the leaner individual called Sharp, had turned his body swiftly at the other's call. Emmett didn't truthfully recognize them, but he supposed they belonged to the court.
"I have nothing to say to you, Flat! Leave me!"
The taller brother stepped out from the entrance way of the Palace and quickly stepped down the small stone stairs before grasping his brother's shoulder roughly to turn him around. "I must speak with you! You've been avoiding me since this afternoon."
Sharp only slapped his hand away and sneered. "Alright then. Explain to me why you decided to play a song for his Majesty without telling me first?" He asked with his hands crossed in front of his chest. "And don't try to swindle yourself out of this, dear brother, but I saw you and that priestess sitting rather close to each other in the gardens earlier today. Surely there aren't any romantic feelings putting strange ideas into that head of yours!"
Flat only blinked. "Romantic…feelings? Oh brother she is merely a frie—"
"I sure hope you have not come up with some idiotic plan to run away with the wench to become a traveling musician while I'm left behind composing for his Majesty!"
Well it was just as Flat suspected. His brother had not been pleased he had played without him during lunch. "I had not meant to upset you. I was simply overjoyed and amazed by one of our guest's foreign music, and I only wished to share them with you and the Royal Family," He explained, but Sharp only turned his head in annoyance. "Forgive me for upsetting you. It wasn't the same without you playing beside me, and I admit I much rather enjoy when we are both playing for his Majesty."
Pleased with his younger brother's apology, Sharp curtly nodded. "Apology accepted, for now. We shall speak no more on the subject!"
After hearing the bickering between the brothers, Emmett watched as the two returned within the safety of the Palace, the doors loudly closing behind them. As he stealthily stepped around the corner, he heard heavy footsteps approaching in his direction. Quickly searching for a means to hide, he threw himself into two small hedges beside the outside wall. If he had used his magic of teleportation so close to the castle, he knew that without a doubt that the Magic Users would sense it and in no time capture him just like Armaros.
From inside the bushes, Emmett watched as a couple young men, dressed from head to toe in fancy armor and silver plates, sauntered down the walkway. Thankfully they had not noticed his presence as they were too caught up in conversation with the other.
"So, how was it at the tower?" One asked as he eyed the young man beside him.
He shrugged. "What's there to say? We stood in front of a locked door. "If you had been there, you'd realize there is no point in guarding that place."
"Why is that?"
He rolled his eyes. "There's no possible way anyone could cross that huge pit to reach the door, unless they were a demon of some sort!"
His friend mused over this. "Obviously there must be some reason his Majesty has asked for his men to guard the tower."
"Apparently the tower holds all the riches or at least some of the Royal Family's treasure. As well as some mask that houses the spirit of a demon…"
"Oh I see…Wait…Demon?" He questioned.
His friend nodded. "Remember the guy they apprehended today? Apparently he was in possession of a terrible demon mask. They have it guarded as we speak inside that tower now."
He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I can't fathom why his Majesty would keep such a thing locked away rather than destroy it…"
As their voices drifted further and further away and once out of sight, Emmett stepped out from the small hedges and turned his scarlet eyes in the direction of Stone Tower in the distance. So that's where they were hiding it? How very peculiar, but at least it made his job retrieving it all the easier. With the mask's power, he knew he could rid the world of Igos Du Ikana and return order to the Kingdom. He had to act fast. Night was quickly approaching.
OOO
Dusk
After strolling around town in search of some answers to who the peddler was, Link could not find anything of importance. Most of the townspeople had retired earlier to their homes, while a great many had refused to speak with him, questioning his strange hair color out of all things.
In the end, Link returned to the castle, and with the Princess's letter, the guards had allowed him entrance without question. He wandered the halls, recognizing some areas more easily than others. After climbing the staircases, he heard from one of the maids about his female friend and how she had collapsed in a fit of hysteria they had believed. When Link heard this, he ran to her room at once without a moment's breath.
Slamming open her door, he saw the priestess unconscious in the large bed, sleeping rather peacefully. There were no other occupants in the room but himself and he couldn't help but sit on the edge of the bed beside her.
"Kagome…"
What had happened while he and Inuyasha were away? Had something happened at the castle? Was it fatigue?
Smoothing her bangs from her face, Link couldn't help but lift himself from the bed and leave the room. He wanted answers as to what happened. He searched the halls to his left and right, but they were empty of all servants and guards. It was eerily quiet in the castle since his arrival, and he couldn't help but notice that nearly all of the guards within the Palace were missing.
Darting down the hall to his left, he descended the staircase before turning towards another empty corridor. If he knew anything, he had a feeling Cathleen and the King were in the Throne Room. Perhaps that was where the majority of the Palace residents were.
After descending more stairs, he finally arrived within the imperial halls of the room directly ahead. Surprisingly, there were no guards standing watch outside the Throne Room, and without hesitation, Link stepped in.
Inside the grand room, he saw the Princess conversing with the King quite loudly with her guardswoman, Roshan standing to her side silently. There were no others in the room but themselves, and it left Link questioning where the servants and maids had disappeared to.
Once Cathleen had noticed Link's presence, she immediately sprang towards him in a fit of worry. "Swordsman Link! I must inform you of Priestess Kagome!" She exclaimed sorrowfully. "She has fallen unconscious earlier during yours and Inuyasha's leave a short few hours ago," She explained with her hands folded in front of her.
"I heard from a maid when I arrived. She seems to be sleeping peacefully at the moment," Link replied, and at this Cathleen only looked at her feet. Looking around, Link couldn't help but rub the back of his neck knowingly. "I have noticed the lack of soldiers as well as your servants in the Palace. Has something…happened?"
The King said nothing, remaining ever so silent in his chair. Link felt the tremendous powers radiating off him, and his unreadable expression left him feeling a little hesitant.
"I'm afraid many of our servants have abandoned the Palace. Only a few have remained," Cathleen explained despondently. "As for our soldiers, a great number of them have gone to aid Captain Keeta at the battle front against an invading army."
Link's eyes widened. "An army?"
She sadly nodded. "Yes…We're at war…Priestess Kagome and I heard it first hand while father was speaking with one of the soldiers about the approaching army. I fear the shock must have really gotten to her."
Link lowered his eyes. So that's what happened.
"Where is your friend, Inuyasha?" Cathleen asked as she worriedly glanced behind him. "Did he not return with you?"
"Oh…well he went looking for that friend we mentioned before," Link lied, hoping what he said didn't sound suspicious, but Cathleen believed it instantly, saying she remembered that was the reason they had arrived in Ikana.
"I do hope you find your friend soon…" She explained.
Link narrowed his eyes, watching as the Princess returned to Roshan's side worriedly. If he had to guess, it was only a matter of time before the Garo attacked the town. "I may not be in the position to say such things, but …"
"Feel free to speak your mind, young man," King Igos Du Ikana voiced aloud, reclining back further into his impressive and bejeweled chair. "From the expression on your face, you fear for the safety of this Kingdom. Am I right?" From Link's nod, he only chuckled. "Fear not. Preparations have already been made. Within the hour, my daughter shall escape. I do hope you and your friends leave as well."
"You need not worry for our safety," Link replied. From beside the King, Link noticed the rather large blade resting just beside his Majesty, and Link gathered it was his last means of an attack if the Garo managed to infiltrate the Palace. It was the same blade that was given to Inuyasha by the Great Fairy in Present Termina.
Link said nothing more, but he realized he needed to inform Inuyasha immediately of the news, yet just before he could turn around and exit the room, he stopped and felt his mouth literally open in surprise.
A familiar raven haired man dressed in the familiar red outfit was none other than Inuyasha. Walking into the room, he noticed Link staring at him as if he had grown two heads or something, and watched as the young boy approached him.
"There you are. I was looking all over for you!" Inuyasha exclaimed with annoyance. Removing Link's sword from his waist, Inuyasha handed it to Link. "I don't know why I have your sword of all things, but here. And while we're at it, can you explain to me what the hell is going on, because I can't remember a damn thing!"
Link blinked. "Inuyasha…you were supposed to be guarding the tower," He whispered out of earshot from the Princess and his Majesty. To his surprise, Inuyasha only scratched his head perplexedly.
"What the hell are you talking about? Why would I guard the tower? And while I'm at it, why the heck is the castle so quiet? Where is everyone?" Inuyasha questioned.
"You've forgotten?" Link questioned before his eyes widened. It couldn't be… It was probably already too late. The mask was no doubt in the possession of the Happy Mask Salesman by now. So much was happening during their two hour absence from the Palace, and Link had a feeling the attack from the Garo very soon to transpire would overwhelm them greatly. Since the King had sent out his entire army of soldiers to the battle front then that left the Palace completely vulnerable to any attack.
It was already too late.
Cathleen, who had noticed the Inuyasha within the room, hurried over to greet him worryingly. She saw him holding his head achingly; having conversed with Link a short moment ago in hushed voices. "Inuyasha, did you find your friend?" She asked, and at his confused stare, she only canted her head to the side.
Realizing Inuyasha was about to question the Princess, Link intervened quickly. "Inuyasha told me that the town is almost empty of all its citizens," Link cautiously explained, and at this, Cathleen only frowned. "I'm afraid we could not find our friend…After all we came a long ways out here, right Inuyasha?" Link asked, nudging the raven haired man beside him in the arm.
Inuyasha quietly nodded. "Yeah, like he said. So what's with all the gloomy faces? Did someone die?"
Link had the urge to face palm. Even after acknowledging the tense atmosphere, Inuyasha still couldn't act sensitive.
The Princess sorrowfully nodded as she folded her hands in front of her white dress, her head lowered to the ground. "We are preparing to evacuate very shortly, as soon as we hear news from Captain Keeta on the battle front."
Inuyasha arched a brow. "Ohh…" He didn't know what to say. In fact, he felt stupid just blurting out if someone had died, not realizing it had deeply upset the young girl who seemed quite close to crying.
Before Inuyasha could open his mouth again, Link took him by the arm and pushed him off to the side, apologizing to Cathleen. "I'd like to have a word with him. It won't take long." At her silent nod, and as soon as he and Inuyasha were out of earshot, Link faced Inuyasha, looking him deep in the eyes. "What happened? You were supposed to guard the tower."
He scratched his head. "Was I?" Inuyasha asked. "Damn it, I can't remember anything. I don't even know why I was holding your sword either."
Since Link knew the Happy Mask Salesman was knowledgeable of sorcery, he figured it might have been him who placed Inuyasha under a spell. By doing so, Link knew it would confuse his friend, giving the peddler just enough time to sneak into the stronghold to steal the mask. That must have been what happened.
"It's alright," Link replied as he brushed his blonde bangs away from his eyes. "I had my doubts we'd pull something like that off in the first place. Altering history is not a simple feat…"
Sure Inuyasha was angered some of his memories were erased, but he understood what Link was saying. "So where's Kagome? I haven't seen her since I got back," He asked, his voice a lot louder.
Cathleen, who had heard Kagome's name brought up suddenly, sauntered up to the two young boys. "You must not have heard. Priestess Kagome collapsed a short time ago since both your absences. She's been in bed asleep since."
"What? Where is she?" Inuyasha questioned. "Is she alright? What happened to her?!"
Unfortunately, before Link could reassure him of Kagome's well-being, they were interrupted when loud footsteps echoed into the room. They turned their attention away from each other and to a small stout looking man. He was bent over huffing and puffing, coughing a little as he lowered himself before his Majesty, both his legs and hands shaking of nervousness.
"Who is that?" Inuyasha asked.
"He is the Royal Courier. He must have brought news from the battle front," Cathleen explained to Link's left. Cathleen held her hands to her chest fearfully. From head to foot, the messenger was filthy and completely drenched in sweat.
"Y-your Majesty! Terrible news! Such terrible news!" He cried out desolately.
Cathleen gasped. It was just as she feared…
OOO
When Emmett had arrived upon the Stone Tower, the very strong hold symbolizing the strength and power of King Igos Du Ikana, he hadn't expected a confrontation. A very peculiar and familiar young man with long black hair, wearing the most peculiar red clothing he'd ever seen, had stood between him and his mask.
Of course it was very easy getting past him, just like the other young soldiers on patrol in the area. With just one spell, he managed to easily erase the young man's thoughts that contributed to his reasons of guarding the tower. If he hadn't known any better, Emmett would have thought he had intended to stop him, of all people.
Unfortunately for his Majesty, it had proved quite simple to get inside the tower. Without the use of a barrier erected around the fortitude, Emmett found his entrance inside rather easily. He was surprised at the architecture even inside the tower. Grand statues and pillars aligned the walls inside, and dozens and dozens of doors and stairs led him through traps, through waterways, and there were even some rooms that left him stumped at the baffling puzzles.
Yet in the end, he found the object of his desire tucked deeply within the strong hold. Just ahead, lying innocently upon a small pedestal in the room, he saw the horned mask. But even as he approached it, he couldn't help but feel a tremendous power emanating from it, as if pushing him away with its electrifying force. The room was filled with its energy, and Emmett could only assume the demon inside had grown restless and thirsty for more negativity. Or perhaps it was all the negativity it had absorbed from mankind accumulating the room.
Pushing through the torrent of sparking energy, he found it rather difficult to reach out for the mask and reclaim it. But there wasn't much time left. He knew that what he had done had caused the war between the Garo invaders and that of his own Kingdom. However, before anything was to grow out of hand, he intended to protect his Kingdom in the end, as well as rid the world of Igos Du Ikana. Never in his life had he ever wanted for his people to succumb to an inevitable invasion, a life of poverty and death. With this mask, he could help his people, and he could restore the land to its fruitfulness in the previous years before the current King reigned.
Emmett didn't intend to use the mask entirely during his mission. He knew that if he did, the demon within the relic would consume his mind and body, wreaking great catastrophe on his land and even the world. For now, he would remain cautious. Besides, the very fact that the King had reclaimed the mask from Armaros angered him so very much. Emmett worried that if Ikana somehow did prevail against the Garo, the King might turn his interest to the mask that grants many wishes, and he feared by doing so, his Kingdom would no doubt succumb to a fate worse than death.
Finally, after what seemed like long cautious minutes, he braved through the onslaught of the power sparking against his own sorcery. And as he stood before the pedestal, he reached out his hands and grasped the mask.
Thunder and lightning clashed in the darkened skies covering the land the moment the doors to Stone Tower were thrust open. A dark and tremendous power spewed from the fortification as a lone individual, whose cloak hid his face well from sight ran through the pouring rain towards the Palace below the hill.
OOO
Kagome stood within one of the many halls of the Palace with one objective; she had to find her friends. The halls were dark and foreboding as she passed many corridors. Holding her arms around her protectively, Kagome could literally feel goosebumps and chills sweeping through her as she saw strange warped shadows dance across the walls and floor of the Palace.
Where had Link and Inuyasha gone to?
Immediately her thoughts of what had happened to Flat resurfaced in her head, and with each step, she felt her fears rising. As she continued onward, she felt a cold breeze brush past her and when she realized it was coming from the end of the hallway, she narrowed her gaze.
Up ahead, she saw three figures standing just before an open window ahead, its curtains billowing as a storm brewed just outside. Although she could not see their faces, as they were cloaked by the shadows of the darkened halls, Kagome assumed they were her friends, Link and Inuyasha.
A young woman stood directly ahead with her back turned to Kagome and she was dressed in a beautiful white gown that seemed to glow, lighting the path Kagome walked. The girl's hair was a familiar golden color, curling just at her lower back. To the priestess's relief, she recognized the girl as Cathleen standing among two mysterious people whom Kagome could only assume was her friends. Pleased, Kagome ran towards them calling out jubilantly.
Unfortunately, before she was within ten feet, Kagome abruptly stopped, her breath hitched in her throat with her heart loudly pounding in her ears. Her eyes widened in alarm when she saw blood splattered against the walls on either side of Cathleen with a large puddle just beneath the Princess's feet.
It was at that moment that Kagome recognized the glint of a sword reflected by the moon light from the open window. Whoever those mysterious garbed people were…they were not her friends.
They were…
Frozen to her spot, Kagome watched as the young Princess, who had once been dressed in her beautiful white gown, now stained by blood, collapsed upon the floor unmoving.
It couldn't be…
Unable to find her voice, Kagome watched in trepidation as the murderers cloaked in dark fabric with hoods covering their heads suddenly approached her, their knives held before them.
Inu…Inuyasha…Li…Link…
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shout their names. All coherent thoughts deteriorated the moment they charged at her, and at the sound of a ghastly violin playing at the other end of the hall way, Kagome immediately snapped out of her stupor.
Opening her eyes, Kagome realized she was no longer standing within a dark corridor with menacing men chasing after her. Instead, she found herself lying upon a cozy bed with silken sheets pulled over her chest and a damp rag lying upon her forehead. The sight of her friends hovering near the side of the bed, staring at her with relieved expressions baffled the priestess, and she wondered how long she had been asleep.
Kagome saw Cathleen beside her as well, holding her hand a little too tightly, but she didn't mind of course. Seeing Cathleen there alive and well was all that mattered to Kagome at that moment. However, she couldn't help but notice that the Princess was wearing the exact dress pictured in her dream, but she decided to throw the image out of her head.
There was one thing that bothered the priestess, and that was the absence of her newly acquainted friend, Flat. Though Inuyasha and Link, as well as Cathleen were beside her, asking her questions as to her health and if she was okay, Kagome couldn't help but fear for the absent composer. Where was he? Last she remembered Flat had spoken to her in the hall that day with morose feelings that had concerned his sullen brother.
A chill swept through her when she recalled the horrifying vision of Sharp bashing his brother over the head with a splintered post and then later seeing Flat desperately awaken only to realize he was buried under the earth. It was terrible. So terrible that the priestess couldn't help but frighteningly push away the covers in order to stand and search for the young composer.
Unfortunately before Kagome could leave the room, she found Inuyasha's hands on both her shoulders, attempting to ease her back into bed, but she resisted. "Let me go, Inuyasha! I must find Flat!"
"What for? You're acting a little weird, Kagome," Inuyasha argued. When he had heard she had passed out earlier, he was worried that something terrible had happened to her. And now that she was awake, acting a little too cautious and spurting nonsense about finding that composer, he didn't know what to think.
Roshan who had walked in at that moment, noticing the young man push the girl back into the bed, she sauntered up to the four, earning their attention. "I'm afraid right now isn't the time. I have orders to evacuate everyone," When her gaze shifted to Cathleen, she lowered herself into a bow. "Princess, please heed the King's instructions."
Cathleen frowned. "So soon?" She asked, and at her Royal Guard's stern stare, she only sighed. "I understand."
Noticing the tense atmosphere within the room, Kagome pushed Inuyasha's hands off her shoulders and turned her attention to the Princess. "What's going on? Did something happen?"
Cathleen nodded. "I'm afraid this Kingdom is close to collapsing…" She replied as she hugged herself.
Because Kagome was confused, Link continued for Cathleen. He explained to her that just a short while ago, a Royal Carrier had arrived at the Palace and had informed the King that his army couldn't last much longer against the invading forces. "It seems the enemy is advancing on their approach towards Ikana. There isn't much time."
Kagome gasped. So it had already happened! The Garo were on their way towards the castle and very soon…Of course she remembered seeing the massive size of Captain Keeta that very day asking for permission to send the King's men out to war, but in such a short time, their army had lost so many men. "Then you need to evacuate! Get everyone out of the castle! Where's Flat?"
Inuyasha narrowed his gaze. "Why do you keep asking for that guy?"
Kagome only turned to him, her expression hard. "I…I can't really explain…but I just need to find him!" Still, she found it a little difficult to ease her way from Inuyasha, who once again had a firm grip on her shoulders.
"Huh? I think you hit your head or something," Was Inuyasha's only reply.
What could she do? If she just blurted out that she had a supposed premonition about Flat's death dealt by from his brother, they'd think she was crazy or believe it was all a dream. All she could do was keep to herself.
A clash of thunder caused the priestess to jump suddenly. Was it storming outside? As she stepped over to look outside the window of the Palace, she saw that it was indeed storming, so hard that she could hardly make out anything through the darkness of the land. It seemed a little too eerie out there.
Below, Kagome recognized the gardens. She saw how the trees and shrubbery swayed from the constant wind, but as she squinted through the darkness, she saw someone outside, standing near the gate that separated the Palace from the outside world. What was that person doing?
When Link saw that Kagome had gone to stare out the open window, the lightning quite fierce in the distance, he couldn't help but cross his arms. There was something a little different about her today, but maybe he was just overthinking. "Kagome? What are you doing?"
"I see someone down there," Was her only reply to which Link blinked. In fact, if her eyes weren't playing tricks on her, she was sure she saw two people down there. Was there someone behind the gate?
When another bolt of lightning lit the sky, Kagome saw a third person walking towards the two near the gate from the castle. In that instant, Kagome was sure she recognized that person as Flat. But from the second floor of the Palace, she still couldn't tell.
It was at this point that Link joined Kagome by the window, and when he saw her looking down in the direction of the gardens, he peered through the darkness; he saw nothing as the rain poured. Yet from Kagome's expression, something had caught her eye.
When another bolt of lightning struck, Kagome couldn't help but pull herself away from the window. Whoever was in the garden was gone now. Had it been real? Had she imagined all of that? Feeling her head, she wondered if she was coming down with a fever, but she wasn't particularly warm.
Link frowned. "Kagome?"
"Perhaps the shock of the imminent attack has gotten to you, priestess Kagome," Cathleen replied suddenly, having seen her odd behavior just then. In fact, it kind of scared her, and she certainly hoped there was nothing out there in the darkness of the night.
Even if that were the case, Kagome wasn't sure. That vision of Flat's death that had unexpectedly consumed her earlier still plagued her thoughts. And that recent dream of Cathleen's murder weighed heavily on her mind as well. Now she thought she was seeing things out there in the storm, but somehow she had a feeling something terrible was about to happen. Was it really shock? "Maybe you're right…I've got a terrible migraine all of a sudden."
Cathleen understood, as well as the rest of her friends, but before the Princess could ask them to follow her out in hopes of evacuating, the entire room went dark all of a sudden. All of the lighted candles which had been previously burning around the room of the upper walls had somehow gone out; in fact, the entire Palace was shrouded in an eerie blackness.
"What's going on?" Kagome asked, looking around through the darkness. She could hardly make out her friends in the room, but the slight glimmer from Inuyasha's necklace helped identify him easily.
It was at this moment that Link unsheathed his sword. A sudden coldness spewed into the room from the open window, and with it, he sensed something very ominous about it. "Something's happened…" He spoke aloud and it was followed in agreement from the amazon guard standing next to him.
The sudden flicker of a flame turned everyone's attention to Roshan standing beside the young Princess. In her hand she held a small candle, held within a small golden holder which she carried easily. She handed it to Cathleen, who took it suddenly as she examined her friends in the room, thankful they were still there with her.
"This is really creepy…What's going on?" Kagome asked, rubbing her arms in hopes of restoring warmth to her skin. The longer she and her friends remained in the past of Ikana, the more sinister it became.
From outside, a loud explosion drew everyone's attention to the balcony window once more. To their disbelief, they saw half the village engulfed in flames. The Kingdom was under attack! As the storm continued and the thunder roared, they could not hear the desperate cries of the villagers, but they realized with great surprise that they could smell the smoke, even from across the river.
When they realized the gardens just below them had also caught fire, everyone immediately pulled away from the window, all except Cathleen who couldn't help but stare wide eyed in fright.
"We must quickly evacuate! Hurry, I'll guide all of you through a secret passageway!" Roshan exclaimed immediately, but when she realized the Princess was still staring out from the balcony, Roshan reached for her hand.
In that instant, Cathleen gasped and immediately pulled herself away from Roshan. Slowly and fear-stricken, she stepped away from the window, her eyes very close to tears. "This is terrible! What do we do?!" She cried almost hysterically. It had happened much sooner than she had expected.
In an effort to calm the Princess, Roshan immediately guided her by the shoulders and ushered everyone to leave the room immediately. Unexpectedly, however, Cathleen pushed herself away from her nursemaid once again. "Princess?"
"Oh no, father!" Cathleen cried. Very soon the Palace would be caught up in flames. How could she abandon her father to such a fate? Despite her nursemaid's protests to stay, the Princess suddenly lifted her white dress as she ran to the open doorway, but not before stopping to look back. "Please, help everyone to escape! I have to find my father!"
"Your highness!" Roshan cried out, but Cathleen was already gone, braving the dark halls to warn her father. If she could not carry out the King's order to protect his only daughter, then her own life would be for nothing.
Noticing the amazon's hesitation, Kagome stepped closer to her. "Go after her. Don't worry about us."
After quickly apologizing to the three, Roshan informed them to head downstairs to the dining room. It was there that a secret passageway to the tunnels below would help aid in their escape. "I'll return shortly with the Princess. Please wait there until I return."
As soon as she was gone, Kagome turned to her friends. "It's happened…"
"Damn it!" Inuyasha cursed. "What the hell are we standing here for?!" As he went to snatch Kagome's hand, Link grabbed his wrist to stop him, much to Inuyasha's confusion. "What are you doing? If we stand here any longer, those flames will reach us in here!"
"Hold on a minute, Inuyasha," Link replied suddenly before stepping towards the window to view the fire down below. The flames weren't dangerously high, and there was still enough time to run to the dining room, but as he stared at his hands closely, he wondered if there was even a point in attempting an escape. "Our time is almost up here."
Kagome too stared at her own hands, and Inuyasha did likewise. They noticed that their bodies were almost transparent. It was almost time to return to the present to rejoin their friends, Sango, Miroku and Shippo in Clock Town.
"We have to do something…" Kagome continued her protest. "I'm afraid…I had this terrible dream about Cathleen and even Flat."
Inuyasha only stared at her. "Is that why you were acting all weird? Because of a dream?" He wanted to roll his eyes.
Kagome only glared at him. "It wasn't just a dream! It felt…real," She attempted to explain. "Something is going to happen to them. There may be a chance to—"
Link suddenly interrupted her. "We failed protecting the Mask. When Inuyasha returned to the Palace, he could not remember anything," He explained, and Kagome's mouth fell open in surprise. "And also…even though the Happy Mask Salesman asked us to retrieve it in return to help aid us in summoning the Goddesses, I'm afraid it's impossible to change history. We could not stop him from his wicked deeds in the past, and we also could not stop a war."
"But…" Kagome felt her eyes tear up some, but it wasn't because she was going to cry. The smoke had now entered the room, and she found herself covering her mouth and nose.
"Whatever might happen to Cathleen and the King, there's nothing we can do," Link explained.
It was at this point that Kagome suddenly remembered something of great importance. "Oh the pendant! We have to get the pendant!" After all, Armaros destroyed it back in Clock Town; that was also another reason they had been brought to the past in the first place.
Link nodded. "The King was wearing it the other day," He explained, and at this Kagome and Inuyasha couldn't believe it; in fact, they hadn't even noticed. "I assume it must be within his bed chamber." At least he hoped.
Because it was becoming too suffocating to stand any longer in the room, the three immediately left through the door where they too were greeted by the ominous and quietness of the halls. There wasn't much time before their return back to Clock Town; they had to act fast, or Termina's existence would suddenly end.
OOO
It was thanks to the power of the mask that Emmett now found himself walking the empty and darkened halls of the Palace with Sharp leading him towards the room in which the King resided. Just getting inside had been so troublesome without the use of his own magic, yet it was thanks to Sharp for allowing him entrance inside.
When Emmett had noticed the old composer staring blankly out the window to the gardens, it was the mask that had lured him outside and to the gate where Emmett had waited all too patiently. It had fascinated Emmett; the power of the mask was indeed amazing. It had the uncanny ability to grant any wish its host desired.
There was of course a small nuisance that had interrupted his plan, but only for a short time of course. While Sharp had been under the trance the mask had placed upon him, his younger brother had exited the Palace and approached them. That man had accused his brother of a horrendous act which no doubt led to Sharp, though swayed by the evil spirit of the mask, to turn against his own brother.
In the end, it led to a bloody situation, of one that involved a gnarled post and a limp body. What was one to do with such a corpse? Simple, send it to a grave and out of the way of his mission.
Nothing would stand in his way now.
In fact, he quite liked having someone else do his bidding. After all, the very notion of using one's own hands to murder did not settle well with Emmett. So what was the harm in using another?
When he was finally led to the very room in which the King resided, Emmett felt every fiber in his being swell. Finally, finally he would put an end to the King's existence and restore order and peace to the Kingdom. As he entered into the room, he saw that the curtains were drawn shut within the room, and he realized the darkness hid him quite well. The only ounce of light that poured within the room rested well over the King's head.
Making himself comfortable, Emmett discarded his cloak as he watched his plan set into motion. From the darkness of the room, he watched as Sharp approached the King, wielding his small violin innocently enough, its strings and bow manipulated quite easily by the mask's power.
The King was resting at this throne, though menacing in appearance, from a distance, he seemed rather distressed, anxious and quite exhausted, all the while unaware of the unsettling intentions within the very room he occupied.
From the light footsteps tapping towards him, King Igos Du Ikana sat up straighter in his chair, his hand suddenly reaching out for his sword resting beside him. When he recognized the face of one of his composers, he relinquished his hold on the handle and eased himself back.
"Your highness…" Sharp bowed.
Sighing, the King rubbed his head achingly. He'd have thought the musician had up and fled by now, but he guessed not. "I was foolish to believe that I had the power granted to me long ago to secure the might of this Kingdom," He confessed dismally. "I have failed my people and I have failed my daughter…Perhaps if my brother had not been…" He said no more, and he closed his eyes at the mere image of his deceased brother whom he had murdered years ago in order to attain his Kingship.
Still entranced by the mask, Sharp bowed to the distressed King. "Your excellency, allow me, your loyal composer, to play for you one last time," He urged, holding the bewitched violin out for his Majesty to see. "If the Palace is indeed fated to fall, then I shall play for you until my last breath," He admitted.
Though the King preferred to grieve in solitary darkness, the humbleness of his servant however brought him great pleasure. "I see. You and your brother have always played such beautiful music. Now that my trusted guard has delivered my daughter away from here, with your music, perhaps it should ease my sorrows."
Sharp lowered his head in a respectful manner. "As you wish your highness…" He replied.
Positioning the violin at his shoulder and his bow poised and prepared, Sharp observed as the King eased himself further into his chair before both his eyes closed, awaiting the melody that would soon ease away the pain. Sensing his cue, Sharp slowly dragged the bow across the stings of the violin, the sound profoundly eerie, and yet, to the King, it seemed like a perfect reflection of himself.
Though not afflicted by the dreary tone screeching off the walls of the room, Emmett quietly watched and awaited the final conclusion with anxiousness. It was a perfect end to the King's reign, though he would have thought it would end in a more bloody fashion and less theatrical. All the while, and unaware to him, the mask's aura had suddenly increased from its desired hunger within his hands clutched tightly.
Yet as the King listened further to the dark and morbid melody that his composer played for him, he was unaware of the very visible aura emanating off the violin. Something about the melody had changed, and Sharp dragged his bow across the strings shorter, faster, until they suddenly morphed from tragic strains to ghastly wails.
It was so haunting that a fog clouded the King's mind. It was as if his own cognitive thinking was failing as his thoughts slowly slipped away. Of course he sensed the change, but not immediately, nor was he capable of reacting against it. He'd already fell into the stupor that held him paralyzed to his chair, left him weary and overcome with strange exhaustion. He felt it through every bone, every muscle, and every tendon in his body.
More horrifying did the screeching of the violin present itself, and it echoed in his ears like the devil's call. As much as he tried, he found himself unable to hold on to the tiny bits of consciousness that was quickly slipping from him, fading away into oblivion.
That music! Something about Sharp's playing, that melody had horrifyingly pierced through him. In an instant, the King's eyes snapped open and in an attempt to lift himself from his chair, he found that he could not complete his desired motion. He could not move, nor could he turn his eyes away from the screeching violin.
King Igos Du Ikana felt the constriction of his heart within his chest tighten, as if some unnatural force were squeezing it. His heart pounded, faster and faster and shorter and shorter each time Sharp moved his bow across the strings. A feeling of heaviness overcame his Majesty, and unable to hold himself up, erect and alert, he felt his body slouch further into his chair.
He found he could not move a single muscle, nor could he look away from the violin. Yet the longer he looked, the more he realized his vision had blurred unexpectedly, as if clouded by a strange white fog. Frightened by this, he attempted to turn his head to stare at his legs and hands, but he could not see anything. Nothing.
Where were his legs, his arms and fingers? His body? Where was the rest of the room? Where was his composer?
As it was painfully obvious the King was frightfully aware of his sudden blindness, so too was he to his lack of sensation. Staring blankly across the room, his eyes darting to and from every direction in hopes of finding something amidst the white cloud that shrouded his vision, he found he could not feel anything. He felt nothing but the intense pain within his chest, a ghostly hand that continually grasped and clenched his heart, slowing and quickening the rhythm so painfully and so achingly that it had him suddenly lurch forward in his chair.
Oh how it hurt! The never-ending screeching of the violin rang in his ears and the pain in his chest suddenly intensified. How much more could he possibly take?
The blood within his body thinned unexpectedly, his heart no longer capable of pumping it within his chest. Everything within his body was becoming more empty and barren, and his lungs burned his chest. Though he opened his mouth to call for his men, he found that he could not draw his breath, and he tried desperately, but no matter how much he tried, he simply did not have the energy to.
Eventually, all things had to come to end. As Emmett watched from the shadows of the room, he watched in morbid excitement as the King's body gave one final jerk before his eyes rolled into the back of his head. When the King no longer moved, Emmett realized his mission had finally been completed.
"Long live King Igos Du Ikana, indeed…" He laughed, almost manically.
The violin had ceased its screeching, falling upon the floor of the room in a clatter with its bow when the spell finally waned from Sharp. The moment he regained his normal senses, he looked about the room in mild surprise and befuddlement. When he looked up, he saw the King sitting motionless and shriveled in his chair, his eyes no longer seeing. So frightened by this, Sharp heard crazed laughter behind him, and as he turned, ever so slowly to look behind him, he saw a man with red hair parted to the side, dressed in a purple dress coat with golden bracelets around each wrist, his back arched as he cackled at the sight of the dead King.
What had he done? Sharp looked at his own shaken hands, his mouth quivering in fear when he realized he had killed the king. He saw the fresh blood upon his hands, and when he remembered how he had struck his own brother with a splintered post, he realized he had also killed his own brother.
So fearful of what he had done and had become, Sharp quickly fled the room, abandoning his instrument and escaping the tormenting laugh of the man who stood presently within the room.
Despite the composer fleeing, Emmett saw no reason to chase after. Instead, his laughter soon ended as he stepped up towards the grand sight of the dead King before him.
It had worked.
Emmett couldn't help but allow his grin to spread widely across his face as he took in the marvelous sight of King Igos Du Ikana no longer breathing. How he had dreamed of this moment!
Lifting the mask in front of him, Emmett had noticed the mask's aura had become a lot darker, and he guessed it was because of its dormant state within the tower since he reclaimed it. "Help me to protect this Kingdom and to restore its natural order," He replied, not realizing how the tentacles suddenly slipped out from the interior of the mask.
Within but a few short moments, a certain fair skinned and blonde haired Princess had managed to finally locate the very room her father was surly still within. The darkness of the halls had made her route towards the room rather troubling, and though the candle she held tightly did little to light her path, she was still relieved to have finally reached her father.
As she ran inside, her white slippers tapping against the polished floor of the ominously darkened room, Cathleen saw her father resting in his chair directly ahead. However, before she could run and throw herself into his open arms, she fell short on her approach towards him when she noticed a peculiar sight of a man standing in the middle of the room with his back turned towards her.
Cautiously, she stood there, her heart racing as she squinted into the darkness of the room. Who was that? Why was father so quiet? Something was terribly wrong, she was certain of it.
Ever so slowly, Cathleen stepped lightly into the room, cautious of making any slight noise as she feared the man standing directly ahead of her. She brought her hands to rest above her chest as she swallowed nervously as she neared him. Why was the room so silent?
"F-father…" She softly murmured. Why wasn't her father moving? Normally by now he'd have recognized her presence, but as she stepped closer out of the darkness where the light fell from the open window above the King's throne, she realized all too well the circumstances of the situation.
Cathleen immediately stopped, her hands raised to her mouth in horrified surprise as she looked upon her father who was very much dead. She saw that he was slouched in his chair, his head bent at an awkward angle and his eyes rolled into the back of his head unseeing.
So close was she to the throne, that she couldn't help but gasp and her voice echoed off the walls. And when she realized what she had done, she covered her mouth frightfully, stepping away from the stagnant and menacing man standing a small distance away from her.
Having heard her, the man, dressed in a purple dress coat turned towards her suddenly, and the sight of him frightened Cathleen. Whoever he was, his face was covered by a heart shaped horned mask. Its eyes stared at her so menacingly that she found she could not move, frozen to her spot as he slowly and eerily tilted his head while watching her.