The Descended Shadow

by BC-Butch Cassidy-BC

24 years have passed since Hitomi returned to earth but Gaea is not the same place she left behind. War, oppression and death are all commonplace, and in this shadow a new visitor comes from the Mystic Moon... A new story is Dawning, the Descended Shadow!

7. As a candle to the Shadows

A VISION OF ESCAFLOWNE
The Descended Shadow
Chapter VII
As a candle to the Shadows

Disclaimer – Escaflowne is not mine; the characters and story are the property of Bandai entertainment. The story and characters of 'The Descend Shadow' or 'Shadows of the Past' are the property of Butchs Fan Fiction Forum . Before use of these characters or elements of the story please get permission from Butch Cassidy at

- Visit the Home of 'The Descended Shadow' at

- Character reference at the end of the Fan Fic. If you forget a character, remember.

………

"Tell me then, what are we meant to do? Sit around and do nothing!" The mans voice echoed around the circular room. The centre played host to a long table, chairs all around it. Most of these where filled, their occupants each authorative in their own way, and looked like they had been there a lot longer than they wished to remember. Most of them looked agitated if not annoyed by the others around them.

"Until the king returns we are can't do anything!" Merle yelled back at the man, she too looked angry, having lost any of the sense of composure she would normally hold with Von's advisers. Another of the advisors, this time to the left side of the table took the
"Indeed, but we don't know what has happened to him. For all we know he is dead or run away"

Merles blood boiled turning to the man,
"You had better not be suggesting what I think you are" She asked him, in a vain attempt to keep her voice calm. The man shrinked back at her words,
"We must face facts" He rebutted, most of his confidence gone. Merle looked as if she was fighting to hold back her rage,
"Facts? What facts are these? We have no FACTS!" She yelled at the man, another of the advisors raised his voice,
"I agree with Merle, we have details that the attack was launched from a Fanelian ship but how could Von have ordered that for Asturia. And no such orders have come from here, leaving us with the question… who attacked and killed Alan Shazar"

The room fell silent before Merle spoke up again,
"At least someone here has half a brain" Poker frowned,
"Now there's no need to get insulting, my lady" Merle backed down, returning to her chair. She growled,
"Fine" The man sitting to the opposite end of the table spoke up next,
"Well what I am meant to do in Urthas? Nothing? As governor I demand action!" He asked angrily. Merle sighed,
"We went over this Néigh, we can't do anything until Von returns" She reminded him, he snorted angrily,
"Fraidan troops gather on our border, and we do nothing. They order the surrender of our king, and we do nothing. They are treating our people no better than the dirt that crawled out of Entóntria, and we do nothing. If they attack, will we do nothing as well?!" Néigh told the council. Merle watched him fiercely,
"It doesn't matter, we do not have the authority to control troop movements. Only the king and Onoír can order that and Onoír refuses to move without the king… In other words we're stuck" Merle told him, he continued as if not hearing a thing she said.
"Whether I have the authority or not, if Von is not back soon, I will take the soldiers I need" Merle raised to her feet, banging the table with her fists,

"That would be an act of Mutiny" Merle yelled at him across the table, Néigh frowned standing up, "If that's what you wish too call it then I suppose I'm committing it"

Raised voices broke out across the table, each of the advisors trying to force their own voices to be heard over the others in the room. Merle and Néigh stood facing each other, each their eyes afire. A loud bang brought the advisors to silence, all eyes turning to the source of the sound. Poker stood his fist having impacted with the table,
"Stop this talk of Mutiny, Néigh, Merle, calm yourselves. These are serious maters not to be taken lightly, and your squabbling like children," Poker told them, now that the ruckus had gone. Merle was about to talk back when the door to the room opened, a Fanelian soldier entering.
"What is it?" Merle asked, the man straightened,
"A Levi-ship has been spotted entering the city" He answered, Merle rolled her eyes,
"So?" She informed him.
"It's flying the flag of the Fanelian Kingship" He finished, Merle nodded,
"Néigh Looks like you got your wish" She told him, and motioned to the door, "Come on"

…………

The trip had slowly passed like any other Nimura had the misfortune to be apart of. He never liked to fly, but as a cruel trick of fate he found himself drawn to the same place everyday, the same view off the side of the ship. Whether it was his subconscious desire to see the ground or just irony he wasn't entirely sure.

They had crossed into Fanelia early that morning and now with night threatening they slowly approached the city of Fanel, her lights finally becoming visible in the distance, a beacon of civilization in a land of forests. He turned his eyes from the now blackened trees below them to his side, the firm figure of Luke coming into focus. During the trip he had reacquainted himself with his old friend though one subject had been sidelined, until now that is.
"Luke" Nimura asked, his voice carrying in the night air, "What happened, with the family?" There was a gruelling silence, when Nimura nearly regretted asking the awkward question. Luke turned and leaned sideways on the bar of the floating ship, his long blond pony-tail blowing in the slight breeze of that evening. His features where firm, almost unmoving but he sighed.
"Don't you already know?" He asked, his voice mellow, "You didn't ask them?" Nimura nodded,
"Jennifer told me but I want to hear your side of the story. Why did you leave?" Nimura asked again with a wave of his hand, Luke nodded slowly,
"There are only two men I truly trust in this world…" Luke told him, "And one hates the other"
"Your father and Alan" Nimura clarified, and Luke continued to nod,
"Father fought with Alan over Dawns disappearance. Soon afterwards he regretted it, I know he did, but he let his pride get in the way and over time the feeling turned to hate. I may have been young at the time but I refused to turn my back on my master, so I continued to train with Alan, in secret of course" Nimura just listened intently to Luke, some of the details he knew others where new to him but still he listened.
"Anyway towards the end of my training Alan offered me a place in his fort as one of his personal people" Luke laughed, "You can guess my response. I accepted right away and went home to spread the good news. I assumed father would be happy for me, but his hatred had become greater than I had imagined"

Nimura kept his eyes transfixed on Luke, concern on his face,
"What happened?" He asked, Luke laughed again though not through humour.
"Well there was a big fight over it, and I was told if I went I could never come home" Luke told him, "It may seem silly but some of the words he used dug deep. Called me a traitor to the family, and to your fathers memory"

Nimura eyes turned fierce,
"Its not silly at all! Little more can hurt a man than to have his loyalty questioned, and by your father too…" Nimura told him, his words losing focus, "But Luke that all happened because of tempers, I'm sure he regrets the words he used now" Luke shook his head,
"Sometimes I think like that, I could just go home and mum would welcome me back with arms wide but then I remember"
"Remember what?" Nimura asked, Luke turned, anger and uncertainty in his eyes,
"What if he hates me now! Alan was his best friend and all it took was a few years to turn him into the world's worst man! What if he now feels the same about me?!"

Luke sighed, the air turning silent once more. A cold breeze froze Nimura's arms, freeing several of his hairs. He thought back to his time at the bar, and how Gaddes had reacted to Luke's name even being mentioned. Could it be that he really did hate his son now. Nimura took a deep breath,
"Luke, no matter how bad things get or how bad a fight comes between you, family is family. There is a special bond, which is almost impossible to break. Come the time you will be welcomed home" Nimura told him calmly, Luke smiled in return.
"I don't know if that was all crap but you do know how to make someone feel better" Luke told him patting him on the back, "Come on, I'm sure you will want to be the first to be back on the ground when we dock"

Nimura laughed,
"Yeah"

………

For Sadako the short two-day trip had felt like an eternity. She had spent almost the entire trip with her unconscious father, waiting for him to regain consciousness. She had listened carefully to Mole Mans orders on how to look after Von and had been following them to the letter. It was only in the morning of that last day that Von had finally regained consciousness.

Since then the trip had felt a lot more fast flowing with the excitement of his awakening and the impending arrival in Fanel. Once he had awakened she and Von didn't have a moment's peace, with people coming in and out to the see the king. It was only in the early evening when she knew they were almost in Fanel when they were left alone together.

It was Von he noticed first,
"Sadako?" He asked her, she almost jumped to attention.
"Yes"
"Are they gone?" He asked, she took a look around the room and noticed that the room was indeed empty. She nodded, shuffling her chair closer to the bed,
"They're gone," She answered, "Would you like me to go as well?"

Von slowly shook his head,
"No, please stay" Von asked taking hold of her hand, and she smiled,
"Alright" Neither of them spoke for a couple of minutes, an awkward silence. It was Von, who finally broke it again,
"Sadako, I'm sorry" Sadako looked up into his cold shaking gaze,
"What for?" She asked. His gaze wavered as he looked away from her,
"I have not been there for you when I should have been, your father should have been with you and for that I am sorry" He told her, a small smiled formed on her lips.
"Von, there is nothing to be sorry for" She told him, he turned his gaze back to her,
"But still, I'm sorry and if you would take me…" Von started his gaze shacking even more though he kept in contact with her eyes, "… I would like to be the father you never had"

Listening to his words Sadako felt like her heart was going to explode. When she was young she would dream of her father, and later hate him for not being with her or her mother. She now understood why Hitomi never spoke of her father. She felt an overload of emotion, which she couldn't hold back. Reaching forward she grabbed Von round the neck, hugging him tightly. Von unsure how to react at first did nothing but then brought his arms around her holding her near to him. She buried her face into his shoulder, Von's shacking eyes steadying… his wavering heart becoming steadfast in his actions.

Sadako's words came muffled from Von shoulder, her voice cracking,
"Of course I would take you" Pulling her face from his shoulder she looked up into his eyes, her own reddened by tears, "If you would take me"

Von gently nodded, to which her smiled widened. He tightened his grip around his daughter, for the first time in over twenty years Von's heart was at peace. He felt as if he would never let her go, but knew deep in him that he would have too. And from the corner of Von's own eye there leaked a tear, not of pain but of joy. He may have lost his beloved… but he had gained something just as precious.

………

A brisk breeze blew, just adding to the cold night air the roof had to offer. Merles dress blew in the breeze, though she never noticed it, her attention solely focused on the bright lights of the Levi-ship crossing over the third wall of city floating majestically towards the castle, and its private Levi-port.

The castle Kanzaki, so named as a mark of respect to the visitor from the mystic moon was, unlike its predecessor was built into the mountain itself. From the city, or lands around the castle could be seen though only the very front of it, the rest stretching deep into the mountain and plunging many of its rooms into perpetual darkness. Far above the castle itself on the roof the king's private Levi-port was housed. Only the king or his personal guests where allowed to use this port, most ships using the main Levi-port within the second section of the city.

The torches on the Levi-ship shown in the night air, a large beacon floating over the people of the city. Many of the occupants of the streets below stood hypnotised by the ship, it being rare to see a Levi-ship flying in the city after nightfall. Merle took a deep breath as the ship approached, only a matter of minutes from them.

She turned to Von's advisors, who had gathered behind her,
"No discussion here, this is not the place" She told them, "We will head downstairs" One of the advisors snorted,
"Why not bring it up here? Why should we wait?" Merle kept her temper in check, if it wasn't a place for them to argue it wasn't a place for her to get angry either. Waving her hand she motioned to the city below the castle,
"With the way you lot go on, the whole city will hear you…" She told them, "And do you really want them to see how you all really act" The advisor who had challenged her looked away and said something though Merle couldn't hear it, the Levi-ship now close enough to start effecting their hearing. She turned back to the now docking ship with a fake smile.

It was only a moment after the ship had fully come to a stop and it was safe to disembark that Von, supported by Sadako slowly made his way off the ship directly towards his entourage of advisors. Behind them, Nimura stood at the gangway Luke beside him, "You know its not too late to change your mind" Nimura told him; he only smiled and shook his head.
"No, my place is here now, but who knows what the future holds" Luke answered, Nimura nodded in agreement.
"Then I will see you when that day comes" Nimura told him before turning and starting down from the ship. Several steps later Luke added,
"On that day we shall"

As Von reached the throng of advisors he greeted them sarcastically,
"A royal welcome?" Von asked, "What's the occasion" Behind Merle each of the advisors kneeled and bowed to him. Merle approached him and supported him on the opposite side Sadako had been, she nodded to Sadako,
"I'll help him from here" Then turning up to Von she saw the realization that something was wrong coming to his eyes.
"Von, we have some important matters to discuss"

Von slowly nodding before allowing her to lead him back towards the entrance to the castle. If it were any other time he may have complained or not been as accepting, but he knew that something was happening, he had never seen Merle so calm upon meeting him. And whatever was happening it was big… It appeared he wasn't the only one with a story to tell.

Sadako could feel that something was wrong, though she had only met Merle a hand full of times she had never seen her so… dossal. Nimura came up beside her and tipped her in the back,
"Coming?" He asked, she nodded and began to follow the group. Poker broke off from the main part of the group and blocked their way,
"Sorry children but this does not concern you," He said before turning his back on them and following the rest of the group.

They stood there until the group had disappeared into the castle,
"Does not concern us?" Nimura asked angrily, "What's that meant to mean?!" Sadako stepped forward,
"Children!" She shouted after them, "What do you mean by children?!" No response came from the now out of sight group but Nimura placed his hand on her shoulder, she turned to face him,
"Don't worry about it," He told her. She nodded,
"Yeah, I suppose"

Putting her hands behind her back Sadako calmly started to approach the doorway into the castle, Nimura at her heels. She stopped as the warm air from the inside the castle hit her.
"Sadako?" Nimura asked, "I'm going into town for a minute, wanna come?" Sadako shook her head,
"Thanks but no, I want to get some sleep" She told him, he shrugged his shoulders,
"Alright"

Behind them the Levi-ship, wasting no time pulled itself from the Levi-port and back into the air, ready for its long trip back to Asturia. Paying no attention to it, Sadako and Nimura headed into the warm castle, each with completely different things on their minds.

………

"Hi Jennifer, I'm back" Nimura's voice drifted into the night air, he shook his head angrily,
"No that's not right". Upon leaving the castle he made his way through the castles grounds and then into the city below. Crossing through the courtyard of the kings he became painfully aware at the number of people who where whispering. He would have been more self-conscious but they whispered before he appeared and after he left. Somewhere in the city rumours where spreading and hot ones too.

Soon enough he was standing outside Sarah's Inn and about to enter when he because uncomfortable. He had a bad feeling, but he attributed it to seeing Jennifer again, and after spending longer away than he had promised. So he waited outside and was practising how he should greet her.
"I'm sorry Jennifer, but we did get attacked by Levi-ships, soldiers and dragons" He said, he shook his head right away,
"No that won't do…" Nimura said, "Sounds like I'm bragging"

"Don't be sorry, I'm not!" He continued and again shook his head,
"I won't even start with what's wrong with that" Nimura hit the side of his head several times as if trying to focus himself. He sighed, his breath sending a long plumb of white into the cold night air. Looking up at the half-moon he shivered from the cold, and really wished he was inside in the warm.

Focusing himself he straightened and clenched his fists,
"All right, focus" He told himself, "The sooner this is done the quicker we'll be in the warm" He was about to continue when the door to Sarah's inn opened. The shouts and yells from a happy bar floated into the street along with Sarah's voice,
"Please return soon"

The large man in the doorway walked out, his whole body covered in a large black cloak, his face hooded by a hood of the same colour. He closed the door and most of the noise evaporated. The man was not much taller than Nimura but he was built a lot stronger. He stopped as he spotted Nimura and though he couldn't see through the mans hood he could have sworn he had smiled, Nimura couldn't explain it but he felt like he had seen this man before. After a quick pause the man continued past Nimura. He ruffled Nimura's hair as he passed,
"Good boy" The man mocked in a deep voice, though Nimura got the impression it was faked. Normally Nimura would have reacted violently to such an act but his mind was else where, 'Who was he?' He question pulsed through his mind before it came to him.

Nimura turned in a flash and yelled to the man,
"Stop!" He yelled, "Your that man from the desert! Géaroid!" The man turned for a second before belting into a run down the street. Nimura pulling himself into a run and chased after the man all else forgotten. Nimura chased him down the street for a minute, he seemly going in the direction of the castle. The defensive turrets standing above them menacingly,
"Stop there!" Nimura yelled knowing full rightly that he wasn't going to stop because he told him too, "I said stop"

The man turned a corner just a stone throws from the courtyard of the kings. Nimura turned the corner following him only to find himself faced with a dead end, the base of one of the castles defensive turrets at the end and there was no sign of the man in the alleyway. Several minutes later Nimura turned and returned to Sarah's Inn in defeat.

Dragging his feet he came to a complete stop outside the door and took a deep breath. His chase had killed any wish of his to practise. With a few brisk steps he entered the bar, the noise and heat hitting him like a brick wall. Looking around he could see the room was packed, each seat filled with happy customers. A throng of customers where gathered round the bar, Sarah trying her hardest to serve drinks though it appeared to Nimura her mind was elsewhere.

The door closing behind him he cleared the few steps to the bar, and leaned onto the surface. He waited a moment for Sarah to free from tending and called over to her,
"Evening Sarah"

Catching sight of him Sarah seemed a little taken aback,
"Nimura?" She asked, "Is that you?" He nodded,
"Its nice to be back" She presented a faint smile,
"And Von? Has he returned?" She asked, her voice barely audible by the loud bar.

Nimura didn't catch the grave tone of her voice and answered casually,
"Of course, but before we start on that, that man in the black cloak, you know him?" He asked anxiously. It was now twice that that man had slipped through his figures, and he didn't like it when someone could do that so easily.
"Who?" She asked innocently,
"Big guy, black cloak and hood, left just a few minutes ago" Nimura substantiated. She hook her head,
"I know who you mean but this was the first time he's been here. You know we get a lot of one time customers like him" Nimura didn't understand why but he got a feeling that she was being economical with the truth, though rubbed it off.

Nimura shrugged his shoulders,
"I know who you want to see…" Sarah told him with a smile, "...I'll get her now" And before Nimura could protest she was off and lost behind the large crowd. Nimura leaned on the bar, and let his mind stray. More had happened in the past few weeks than he cared to remember. It made him shudder to think, nothing in his life had remained. Everything around him had changed, did that mean he too had changed? Was he being honest with himself, was he who he thought himself to be?

His shook his head, banishing such thoughts. He was who he was, and that was that. Turning round he looked across the bar again. The fire at the back of the room looked very appealing to him, standing by the draftee door. As he listened to the happy voices something occurred to him.

When he had left the inn was dead, for several days he was the only one there. Why was there the sudden change in character? Rising off the bar he tipped his neighbour in the shoulder grabbing his attention. Turning from his friends he greeted Nimura,
"Yes young man?"
"Is something being celebrated?" Nimura asked, his neighbour laughed finding something very funny in his question. When he calmed himself he looked upon Nimura seriously,
"Where have you been mate? Under a rock?" He asked Nimura nodded,
"I've just got back into town, what happened?" Nimura asked, now quite anxious to know what had changed the mood so dramatically.

"Entóntria attacked the alliance! They attacked Fraid!" The man called out happily, "Not only that but they launched a simultaneous attack on Basram!" Nimura didn't understand so he asked, confusion on his voice,
"Isn't that a bad thing?" The man shook his head,
"They may have attacked but our forces where too much for them. They ran like little girls soon enough, they'll think twice before attacking us again!" The man then let out a tremendous laugh and turned back to his friends happily and took another gulp of his drink.

Nimura too turned back to the bar, but something didn't sit well with him. There was something off about that story, something didn't feel right but he ignored it as he caught sight of Jennifer battling the throng to get to him. He turned to face her, a smile on his face then he caught sight of her expression.

"What's wrong?" He asked as she reached him, his smile replaced with concern. At first she did not answer and just looked at the floor. He was about to ask again when her hand connected painfully with his cheek. Reeling from the slap he turned to face her, her reddened eyes, her face torn with anger.

"WHY?!" She yelled at him, the happy voices around the room coming to an abrupt silence, "Why did you lie to me?!" Nimura was in shock, trying to come to grips with what was happening, the silence around them was deafening.
"I…" Nimura started before she cut him off.
"Why did you not tell me where you came from?! What you did?!" She continued, her eyes beginning to leak tears, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"But I didn't" Nimura said, his voice crackled. She glared up at him,
"Don't lie to me!" She yelled, ever more tears escaping, "Don't lie!" Nimura took a step forward, and brought his hand forward to her. She batted it away,
"Don't touch me Rebel scum!" She yelled, and with a turn of her heel she ran back into the room, the crowd making a path for her as she ran. All eyes focused, piecing on Nimura he turned, Sarah catching his eye,
"Nimura?" She asked sympathetically, he just shook his head,
"Its alright, goodnight"

And stepped out of the inn, yes it had been an eventful few weeks… and he had made some terrible mistakes in that time, some very terrible mistakes.

………

The advisor room was once again filled, but now with the king a new more focused feeling had filtered through. None of them dared to speak, as Merle filled Von in on current events. Von could barely breath… Things where advancing faster than he could have imagined.

"We're sure this is true?" Von asked, his voice no more than a whisper, "We are sure he is dead?" Merle nodded slowly,
"We confirmed it after initial word had arrived. We know you had nothing to do with this, but what is going on Von?" She asked, Von took a deep breath. He wanted to cry, to punch something, anything to let his emotions out. He swallowed, forcing his mind to focus; he couldn't let them out, yet.
"We have stumbled into something big…" Von answered, "…Something very big"

The room, if it where possible became even quieter, each of the advisors listening intently, encase they missed a single word and Von continued,
"We came across the troubles in Zaibach by accident, but discovering that has been the pebble in the pond. As you know I went to see King Dryden prior to a meeting of the alliance council in Norte. Upon leaving Dryden's presence Alan and I split up, he went on a mission to inform other alliance members while I would return here prior to heading to Norte" He told them, several advisors where nodding there heads as they took the information in, other just folded there arms and listened.

"Upon leaving Palas we where attacked and our Levi-ship blown out of the sky. Whoever did this they did not want us to convene the leaders of the alliance. Previous information had already connected Chid to the events in Zaibach, but he did not have the power to do this on his own. The ship that attacked us could only have come from Basram; no other nation has the technology to build a ship like that. This means that this goes right to the top, at least three kingdoms of the alliance in on it. Fraid, Basram and Asturia. Dawn's death, the violence in Zaibach, the attack on Alan and myself, and the army on our boarders… they are all connected. Whatever we have stumbled into, it goes far beyond the alliance," He continued before coming to a complete stop. For a moment the room was silent, letting the information register.

"But why would they have attacked you and Sir Shazar" One of the advisors asked, Von frowned,
"I would have thought that was obvious, they don't want this information becoming public knowledge or us to stand in their way" Von told him, "If that means the death of a king, a famous knight and a few soldiers… so be it" There were several gasps, though Poker through the whole meeting hadn't said a word, or reacted in anyway.

"Now something doesn't add up here" Néigh asked from the end of the table, "Why are Fraid massing on the border? Do they intend to invade?" Von shook his head sadly,
"A week ago I would have said 'no way' but now…" He told him, "…I'm not so sure. If they back off now I could be quite a risk to them"
"Invade?" One of the advisors stuttered,
"They cant…" Came another voice,
"Perhaps we should consider surrender…" Another started before being cut off violently, a fist smashing off the table and a voice echoing across the room.
"NEVER!" Came Pokers voice, "They have already attacked our King! Threatened us and framed us! This cannot stand; even if we must fight alone we mustn't back down! Fanelia once let people walk over her but no more, Surrender is not an option!"

It appeared that all the air had been sucked from the room, each pair of eyes focusing squarely on Poker. Loosening his fists he sat back down.
"I agree with Poker" Néigh informed them, "Even if we did surrender there are no assurances of what they would do. Too many of us know the truth… there would be a massacre"
"It's a little early for us to be talking about invasions and massacres. Anyway Chid couldn't unless they have more than half of the alliance leaders backing him" One of the advisors reminded them, to which Von nodded,
"Yes but we know at least half are already on his side. The question is where Daedalus and Cesario stand"

Merle laughed,
"Well with 'that' Steward in Cesario we can be sure they will stay out of this entirely" There were murmurs of agreement throughout the room. Pulling himself from his chair Von stood up. He turned his gaze to his advisors, and took in each of their faces, each scared of what this may mean. Fanelia had known war in recent years but never since the war with Zaibach has their been a war on her own soil.
"We have to hope for the best… but plan for the worst. Unfortunately no matter what happens we are in for a long road, but Fanelia shall prevail, as she always has"

There were triumph roars from the advisors around the room. 'We have started on a long road, but we shall not run. Fanelia will not be walked over, even if it means the splitting of the alliance…'

………

Nimura sat in his small room; the gentle flame of a candle offered his only light. The light from outside had all but faded away, even the houses from the city failing to offer some relief from the darkness, their candles long extinguished. He sat at a small desk next to the window with a quill in his hand, and a blank piece of paper in front of him. He had been their for hours trying to write but every time he put the quill to paper his eyes would wander to the window and the windows that he knew belonged to Sarah's inn.

What had happened in the bar replayed in his mind time and time again, and the worst thing about it was he knew it was entirely his fault. Jennifer had made it perfectly clear how she felt about rebels and his cause and yet he failed to tell her who he really was. He was no longer the Nimura she remembered but he thought that wouldn't matter, for a while at least.

He wanted to apologize to her, but he didn't really know how to go about it. He hadn't had much experience with such things, and he doubted she would see him, even if he had asked. This left him with but one option, a letter, and thus the quill and paper.

For many more hours that he sat in that little hard chair, writing and re-writing the same letter, changing it time and time again until he had come up with a letter he believed conveyed his apology adequately. It was in the early hours of the morning that Nimura folded the letter and placed the page into a small brown envelope. Then with looped letters he addressed it to Jennifer and turned it over. Dripping some wax from his candle onto the envelopes back he sealed it, and let it dry.

With a sigh he lifted himself from his chair and dragging his feet crossed to his bed. He let out a quiet but unexpected cry as he stood on something sharp in the darkness. Hopping one legged the rest of the distance he sat on the bed and raised his foot onto his knee. Bringing the candle to his foot he caught sight of the blood, and small piece of glass that pierced his foot. He pulled it from his foot and threw it to join the rest of the glass shards that still littered his floor. Placing pressure on the wound, he sighed remembering how he had reacted to learning the truth about Sanjiyan… He doubted he would even hear the rest of that story.

Once he was sure that the bleeding had stopped he tied a piece of cloth around the cut and got into bed. Placing his head on the pillow he cleared his mind, and it was only a matter of minutes before sleep took him and he was allowed at least a few hours of rest.

………

A young Nimura struggled under the weight of the load he was carrying. He was slowly making his way through the stone corridors of his new rebel base, and still being the new kid there he was getting all the worst jobs that nobody wanted. At the moment he was transporting a few dozen swords from one place to another. It had been three weeks since he had first come to the rebels base with Letús and most the of the others there treated him like an outsider but he didn't really care that much. For the first time in years he had a place he could call home.

He passed through empty corridor after empty corridor, most of the rebels being outside training at the moment. It was unbelievably quiet, the only noise coming from him and the swords pummels dragging across the ground. He paused for a moment and wiped his brow of sweat. He was quite tired but he was determined to complete his task even if it was a little more than he could handle.

"To much for you, Alliance boy?" A voice mocked him from behind. Nimura turned to see two large men, both in their late twenties. One of them had a long brown hair, a ponytail falling down his back; his face dotted with untidy stubble and bore a cruel smile. The other stood behind him his face clean-shaven but with bushy black hair. He watched Nimura from behind his friend as if he didn't really want to be there at all.

"What your not used to labour?" He man with brown hair asked, Nimura shook his head,
"That's not it…" Nimura told him trying to defend himself, "…They're just heavy" The man let out a tremendous roar of a laugh,
"Too heavy?"

He walked over to the Nimura and lifted the load from him with one hand and laughed again,
"Heavy? A baby could carry these!" He mocked him. Nimura just looked to his feet,
"I'm trying," He told them weakly. Outstretching his arms he prepared to receive the swords back from the man. The man dropped them out of the air onto his arms causing him to buckle under the sudden weight and fall to the ground. Nimura cried out in pain, one of his arms trapped under the mound of swords,
"I can't feel my arm!" Nimura cried, and the man smiled pulling his sword from its sheath.
"Then this will be a lot easier"

Looking down into the eyes of Nimura he could see the fear of the child. Rising his sword to Nimura's neck he cried out,
"Please don't" The man slowly shook his head and prepared to strike, when his friend came up behind him,
"Talus! Do you mean to kill the boy?" His friend asked angrily. Talus turned his attention to his friend,
"Stay out of this Sanjiyan…" Talus told him, "… If Letús were to find out who this brat was… no it would be much simpler to deal with him, here and now"

Nimura in front of them began to wimpier,
"Please don't kill me," He cried, "Please don't" Talus raised his sword back to the boys throat, and shook his head again. Behind him Sanjiyan unsheathed his own sword, and brought the tip to rest in Talus's back.
"Sanjiyan" He asked very angrily, "What in God's name are you doing!"

"Lower your sword" Sanjiyan ordered him, "I didn't agree to murdering a child"
"We have no choice in the matter" Talus told him trying to keep his cool,
"There is always a choice" Sanjiyan told him, "Now lower your sword" Talus groaned angrily before doing what he was told to. Sanjiyan removed his own from Talus's back, and turning Talus faced him,
"You know what this means Sanjiyan" Talus asked him and Sanjiyan nodded. Turning his back on Sanjiyan he walked off down the corridor,
"For this day forward we are enemies"

Sanjiyan didn't move until Talus was long gone. A small sniffle from Nimura reminded him to the boy's presence. Dropping his sword he knelt down beside the lad, and lifted the swords from his arm,
"Are you alright?" Sanjiyan asked. Nimura shook his head,
"I can't feel my arm" Nimura told him between sobs. Sanjiyan felt it, calmly,
"Its broken, I'll take you to the…" Sanjiyan started but Nimura had already passed out from the pain. Sanjiyan sighed, lifting the boy in his arms,
"I guess I'm at least partly responsible for you now"

………

Back in Fanel Nimura slowly opened his eyes, bringing him back. He rubbed the drowsiness from his eyes and look up at the ceiling of his light filled room. The sun was shining outside, covering everything with brilliant light. Nimura sighed and brought himself into a sitting position on the side of the bed. He covered his eyes from the light and shook his head. He didn't understand why this room made him remember things. It may have been a dream but it was something that really happened to him, so many years ago.

He cupped his face, the light washing over him before pulling himself to his feet. Quickly putting some clothes on struggled to keep himself on his feet, still half asleep. Stumbling across the room he made his way to his chair by the window and threw himself into it. With a sigh he looked out across the city. He felt like his head was spinning, but closing his eyes he took on some form of normality. He just lay back in the chair, ignoring the outside world, the calls, shouts and general jolly atmosphere from the city being blocked out.

He was only brought back to reality by a loud rapping at his door. Removing himself from the chair again he crossed to the door and with a twist of his wrist opened it. Nimura found himself face to face with a young gentleman, in common dress. He held in his hand a small letter; Nimura couldn't make out the address though it was written unusually enough in green ink. The man bowed to him respectfully and then asked
"Mr Kosime?" Nimura nodded, and he offered him the letter.
"This letter was delivered by currier this morning, it is addressed to you" He informed Nimura. Nimura took the letter and thanked the man,
"Thank you". The man bowed again before continuing on with his work. Nimura closed the door and looked down at the letter in his hand. Turning it around to open it he caught sight of the seal and gasped. Ripping it open he read it with utmost heist.

………

Sadako hummed happily as she let the warm sunshine cover her whole body. She had awoken that morning with a highly positive feeling, she couldn't help but feel positive when the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and not a cloud was in the sky. She had gotten up and out immediately. On a day like this she couldn't bare the thought of being cooped up inside, and had gone straight into the gardens, and was now lying only a few meters from the same tree she would usually hide under when the castle proved too noisy for her tastes.

"Its good to be home" She said under her breath before stopping herself and rose off the grass. She sat with a perplexed look,
"When did I start to think of this place as home?" She asked herself, though offering no answer. Since she first arrived in Gaea she had suffered a lot, and experienced hardship like she had never back on earth… but also learned so much about herself. Even though, she had never even considered calling this place home… but she just did. She shrugged her shoulders and lied back down onto the grass happily. Weather this place was home or not the whether was better.

She smiled inwardly, for the first time in a awhile for she was positive about her situation. For the first time in her life she knew who her father was, and she could now be with him… and he too wanted to be with her. She stretched her arms out, relaxing herself on the soft grass.

Her smile turning to a frown as she looked up at the perfect sky above her. She could see nothing but she knew that storm clouds where gathering above… that something big was going to happen. She sighed; hoping that when it came it would be later rather than sooner. As time wore on her mind turned to what Von had told here, so many days back now.
"When someone comes from the mystic moon they are fated to complete a task, once this task is completed then they may return to their home… but not before" She quoted the words aloud, and slowly contemplated their meaning. Thinking about them the same problem came to her, how was she meant to complete a task when she didn't even know what the task was?

She once again let her problem roll around in her head, time and time again trying to make sense of the problem. Thinking of it logically she guessed her mother had gone through the same sort of bother, with an unknown problem to be solved in a foreign land. She laughed, at least now she had people who knew her mother and could help her, which is more than Hitomi had when she was there. She smiled ironically,
"I guess in comparison I have it pretty easy!" She joked, though nobody laughed.

The problem continued to bother her for a few minutes but it for forced clear from her mind when a voice reached her ears,
"How did I know I would find you here?" The voice asked, Sadako knew instantly who's voice it was. Opening her eyes, the form of Nimura came into sight. With a smile she brushed her hair back and pulled herself into a sitting position.
"Good morning" She greeted him. He nodded in reply and sat down next to her. She was going to speak again when she caught sight of his serous face, gazing into the distance with no real focus in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" She asked, becoming concerned. His gaze unmoving Nimura slipped his hand into a pocket in his trousers and pulled out a small letter, the address written in green. Sadako watched as he freed the letter and brought it to rest held out in front of her, offering it. Un-sure of herself she took the small letter from him and looked it over closely.

Turning it over she saw the seal of the letter was already broken. The seal bore the image of two circles, one covering the other, below them, multiple tiny figures were depicted. Removing the paper from within the letter she looked over to Nimura but his gaze still remained unfocused. She opened the letter and read it aloud,

"Nimura,
Our last parting was not as I would have wanted it to be, and that is a mistake I now regret and would like to correct. I'm sure you have a lot of question, questions that I would like to set clear to you. I see things developing that you could not hope to see, and I want to offer you a proposal, please come to the Fanelian Great Lake, soon"

Looking down the letter Sadako caught sight of the signature and gasped,
"Sanjiyan? Sanjiyan sent this?" Nimura nodded slowly,
"He did… that seal is that of our old Zaibach rebels cell. The sun covered by the moon, throwing the people into darkness"

A cold breeze knocked some of Nimura's hairs out of place,
"Where did it come from?" Sadako asked motioning to the letter. Nimura put his hair back into place,
"A currier delivered it to the castle this morning, I didn't even get it quick enough to catch up to the man" Nimura told her, his voice sticking to the same monotone. Sadako could only imagine what was going through his head, She knew how much he had suffered at the hands of Sanjiyan but she couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible for what had happened.
"What are you going to do?" She asked, trying to make the question sound casual. Nimura turned to measure her reaction but she had already turned from him. He looked down upon the grass at his feet,
"I'm going to meet him"

For a moment the only sound was that of the gentle breeze in the leaves of the tree above them. Far off in the distance of the city yet another Levi-ship crossed the cities walls and made its way to the Levi-port. When Sadako spoke her voice was no more than a whisper,
"Why?" She asked Nimura, who's eyes where still glued to the grass.
"Because I have to," Nimura answered ambiguously. Sadako sighed,
"Why do you have too?" She asked, this time hoping to get to the real reason.

"Why?" He answered, rising his head, "Because there are questions I want answered, questions only he can answer!" Nimura turned and looked right into her eyes,
"He said he knew of something…" He continued, "What if it's important?"
"He could be lying" Sadako told him taken aback by his comments.
"Yes" Nimura answered, now calmed, "But what if he wasn't? What if he has information we need? You have seen what's been happening around us, if there is even a slight chance this could help then we must risk it" It was Sadako's turn to look at her feet,
"I've seen more than you could possible know," She told him, her voice weak. Nimura shook his head and turned to her again,
"I'm sorry" He apologized, "I shouldn't have been… Sorry"

"When do you leave?" She asked, her voice still weakened, Nimura sighed,
"Almost right away. I just wanted you to know and too…" he told her his voice fizzling out. Sadako raised her head and gave him a faint smile,
"Good luck" She wished him, "And don't be gone too long," Nimura returned the smile before getting to his feet. He took a few steps before turning back to her,
"Sadako?" He asked, she looked up.
"Yes?" She answered

"I would be happy if you could come with me," He told her. It took a second for what had been said to register with her, but when it did her faint smile vanished to be replaced by a much larger one. Jumping to her feet, she came up beside him and said,
"Then what are we waiting for"

………

The castles library was an unbelievable large room, more like a hall than a storehouse for books. It stretched upwards four stories, the height of the castle itself. Being at the back of the castle the room had no windows in its walls, where only bookshelves stood lining the room's borders. The light for the room would come from the massive skylights that were built into the roof of the hall. Each level of the library contained books on different subjects, from history to philosophy, form religion to cookery, from fiction to weapons of war.

Each of the floors of the library where hollowed in the centre allowing the light from the skylights to spread down to the lowest level, the centre of the bottom level occupied with three massive tables, surrounded by chairs for those referencing the books. The room was now darkened, night having fallen, the room having only one occupant. The single candle burned solemnly beside its owner positioned at one of the three large tables. The mans face half lit by the light, the candle being moved depending on the page he was reading. He was Von Fanel.

Turning page after page Von fought his way thought the book, not treating the pages with the respect they deserved. With each passing page he appeared to become more and more agitated as if unable to find what he was looking for in the book. Surrendering he closed the book violently and replaced it with another, then started to flick through its pages too.

Again after a few minutes of checking that book he slammed it shut, and lied his head down on the table exhausted. Von only looked up from the table when he became aware of another light having entered the room and was making its way towards him. Looking at the person he couldn't make them out the light being the only thing that he could see. He focused his eyes but it was no good, he still couldn't make them out,
"Who's there?!" He asked angrily. After a moment the reply came,
"Its only me" Returned the voice of Merle, he relaxed a little and placed his head down on the table again. Merle took the seat next to him and wrapped her arms around Von, and lowered her head onto his shoulder.
"What is it you're doing at this hour?" She asked as if just happy to be with him. He slowly rose off the table, and looked at her glumly.
"I've been looking for Alan," He answered; looking to the table she caught sight of the mountain of books that littered the table. She sighed,
"Well have you found him?" She asked

Von suddenly became angry banging his fist off the pile of books.
"I've look through them all, all of these books and he isn't mentioned anywhere!" Von yelled, his voice echoing within the large hall. Merle let go of him, moving away. Clenching his fist, digging it into the books he turned to her,
"He did great things… but nothing" Von told her, his voice now no more than a whisper, "Nothing"

Merle sighed, lifting his clenched fit off the books, several of which fell from the pile. Cupping her hands she brought them round his fist, and held it tightly. He turned his distraught eyes to meet with hers,
"This will not bring him back," She told him, clenching his hand tighter, "No matter how much pain you cause yourself it will not bring him back. It is not your fault, you did not hold the blade that killed him" He dropped his eyes from the hers,
"Just like I didn't kill Dawn?" He asked, his voice still no more than a whisper. Merle brought her hands to his face, and forced him to look at her,
"You did not kill Alan, you did not kill Dawn," She told him forcefully. Von looked away from her, letting his gaze fall elsewhere
"If it wasn't for me…"

She forced him to look at her again,
"You didn't kill them!" She told him again. He attempted to look away but Merle held him tightly. Her piercing eyes felt like they where looking right through him, though at the same time they where comforting to him. He didn't know if he wished to look from her or not. Letting his defences drop Von hugged Merle tightly, burying his face in her shoulder, and began to sob. Looking down upon him Merle smiled and brought her arms him comforting.
"Just relax…. Its alright now"

………

The small fire provided the only heat to Nimura and Sadako. They had set the small fire as night had fallen around them, not wanting to ride in the darkness of night. Borrowing a horse from the castle stables they had headed out from the city straight away, and had spent the day riding south through the forest.

Nimura now watched Sadako through the crackling flames of the fire, their horse tied up on the edge of their clearing. Sadako was steering the contents of a pot bubbling over the heat of the small fire. She sighed over the pot, and looked angrily at Nimura who appeared to be enjoying the spectacle.
"Remind me why I have to do this?" Sadako asked him, he smiled inwardly.
"Because I did all the cooking when Von was unconscious," he reminded her, "Just think of it as repaying a debt" She gave him a disapproving glace before returning to the gently simmering pot. Continuing her work, Sadako changed the subject,
"Is there anything between us and this great lake or is it just boring forest all the way?" She asked, to which Nimura leaned back on his hands. He waved one of his hands in front of him as if emphasising a point to her.
"You have to remember Sadako that Fanelia is almost just one big forest, with a few towns dotted around but with the exception of Fanel and Urthas there are no real population centres," He told her with a little vigour in his voice. He didn't often get to show off his knowledge, and when he got the opportunity he liked to saver it. Sadako stopped stirring the contents of the pot and looked up,
"You mean it is just forest?"

Nimura shook his head,
"It may not be a population centre but tomorrow we will be passing through something interesting that is not forest, but I'm not telling you" Nimura taunted her, "I want it to be a surprise" Nimura let out a happy laugh," Its more fun that way" Sadako scowled and stuck her tongue out at him,
"Fine I didn't want to know anyway" Ignoring her last gesture Nimura leaned back onto the hard dirt and looked up at the sky above. He let his eyes glide over the moon and the stars, the branches of the trees in-crutching on their view. He smiled,
"It is a beautiful county" he commented. Sadako sniggered,
"Really?" She asked snidely "I thought you didn't like Fanelia"

Nimura raised his hand and waged his finger at her disapprovingly,
"I never said I didn't like Fanelia," he told her, "Only her king… and recent events have made me have to question that" Sadako looked down into the pot and began to stir again,
"What do you mean by that?" She asked, he sighed sadly and thought of how best to word his thoughts on the matter,
"Well back on the Levi-ship I was talking to Luke. One of things we discussed was the fallout between him and his father. He made it clear that the hatred, which at first was small, grew, until it consumed any chance of reconciliation. I think that's how it was with me and Von" He tried to explain, "I was angry because it appeared to me that he had abandoned my father, mother and myself. That anger turned to hatred with time, and it was unfounded anger to begin with" He turned his head and looked sideways into the darkness of the forest,
"Is this making any form of sense?" He asked, he wasn't sure he even fully understood it himself. She nodded slowly in reply,
"It does..." She told him before adding under her breath, "More than you will ever know"

Nimura pulled himself off the ground and returned to a sitting position,
"Enough on this depressing subject… tell me more about you and the mystic moon," Nimura asked, and Sadako smiled.
"Alright but their isn't much to tell" She warned him before continuing, "I was raised in the city by my mother with two of her friends Yucari and Amano. I didn't have many friends as I grew up but we where more like a group of a friends than a family anyway. I was picked on at school but all kids where at one point or another, but I tried not to let it bother me" Nimura anxiously motioned for her to continue; almost as is he was afraid she would stop the story short.
"Well, I was also trained by my mother in swordplay and even using myself as a weapon if the need should arise. I was about to take my university entrance exam when I was beamed to Gaea and everything was turned on its head" She took a deep breath, "My favourite colour is red, I enjoy sport and green apples. That's my life in a nutshell"

Nimura nodded and she motioned to him,
"Now your turn" She asked, "Tell me a little about yourself" Nimura shrugged,
"Its only fair…" He started, "Well when I was younger mum and dad raised me but, father was also a teacher figure in my life. He taught me everything I knew, whether it was mathematics or swordplay he would teach me. He used to say that I had to practise my skills until the day I could beat him, only then would I be able to truly separate myself from him and stop being known only as Dawn Kosime's Son. Don't get me wrong, my mother also taught me things, but not in a teacher sort of way" He then paused for a moment as if considering whether to mention the next chapter in the story, Nimura lowered his head as he continued the next piece,
"Well you know what happened between my fathers disappearance and my departure from Fanel… so I'll just skip it" He raised his eyes again, "I wandered around Zaibach before I found and joined up with the rebels. Like you when I was there I had no real friends… but there was one person I thought was my friend" Nimura just fell silent, and Sadako adding,
"Sanjiyan"

Nimura slowly nodded before returning to the story,
"You know about me becoming leader and the more recent events in the story. Sanjiyan, he was my friend… that's why I'm going now. He may have been acting but we were friends for so many years, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt and believe there really was a reason for all this happening" Sadako smiled,
"I understand… friendship is a hard thing to let go of… for the faithful anyway"

Sadako looked down into the pot before announcing happily,
"I think it is done" Lowering a small spoon into the contents she picked some of the stew up upon it. Tasting it, her eye twitched and Nimura advanced towards the pot, a stupid looking grin on his face,
"What is it good?" He asked. She swallowed and answered her voice low in the air,
"I'm not sure" She lied, "You try" and offered Nimura the spoon. He took some of the stew and tried it. He forced himself to swallow… it was terrible. He turned to Sadako,
"How much seasoning did you use?" He asked, she looked dumfounded,
"You use Seasoning in a stew?" She replied. Nimura dropped his head into his hands and began to laugh,
"Here I'll show you" He told her before grabbing his bag and removing a few small containers, "I show you" Sadako nodded unsurely, not knowing what she had gotten herself into.

………

It was early the next morning when Sadako and Nimura returned to the main road and their trip south. They rode for several hours without seeing another soul, the road all but deserted. Then slowly the odd person would come across their path, and then more and more, the road becoming packed with people. Sadako took her eyes off the road for a second to see Nimura's reaction to the sudden mass of people around them. His face told her this was normal so she thought nothing more of it and rode on through.

As they continued down the road the trees began to thin, several small buildings replacing them and becoming more common. Nimura's arms around Sadako, as she rode their horse. Once the buildings where now dense enough to be called a town Sadako came to a stop, just as the road came to an end. She turned to Nimura,
"Ok, where are we?" She asked, Nimura acted like he had just woken up though Sadako knew it was only an act,
"What?" He asked looking around, "Ah, we're here" Nimura jumped off the side of the horse and motioned for Sadako to follow him. Lowering herself from their horse, Sadako stepped for the first time onto the cobbled street, and led the horse with her as she followed. Looking around her the houses and building reminded her of Fanel, but on a smaller scale, and she could defiantly see a lot more Fanelian soldiers than their would be on the streets of Fanel. Continuing she came to an abrupt stop beside Nimura who was standing on the edge a deep caesium, right where the road came to an end.
"What is this place?" She gasped, Nimura smiled,
"Welcome to 'The gates to the forest'"

What Sadako saw before her she could barely bring herself to believe. The caesium that stood in front of her stretched out before them for at least half a mile, in the centre of which appeared to be a castle. At first glance the castle appeared to be floating in mid-air, but in-fact was built on a pile of rock, which stretched out of the hole. The castle was huge, surrounded by massive walls, soldiers everywhere on it. On the side opposite to them there was a large stone bridge, which appeared to be defying gravity through gulfing the seemingly bottomless pit. This bridge was being crossed by dozens of people, horses and carts, each either entering or leaving the city at leisure. This bridge was mirrored by another on their side, which was also granting people entrance to the central castle.

"Nimura what is this place?" Sadako asked, barely able to get the words out. The sight was truly stunning. Nimura turned to her with a smile,
"Surprise" Nimura said reminding her of his words from the night before. She returned the smile,
"Its magnificent but what kind of town is it" She asked continuing to stare in awe at the structure.
"Town?" Nimura laughed, "This is no town. This is 'the gates to the forest', a castle controlled by the Fanelian forces. They have been set with the task of being the last line of defence for stopping enemies from entering the central regions of Fanelia. This little town just grew around it for the soldiers and travellers." Sadako turned back to him,
"How can it do that? It is only one castle" She asked, Nimura shook his head,
"Again I forgot how much you didn't know… Sorry" Nimura apologised, "Fanelia is crossed by hundreds of paths and small roads through the forests but these are often dangerous and too small for large numbers, which means people use the main roads. Fanelia is crossed by four main roads. One from the south, which continues into Zaibach, one to the west which goes into Cesario and Fraid and one to the East which heads into Asturia. The final one goes north into Fanel, and it is here that all of these roads converge"

Sadako thought about it for a moment before adding,
"Which means most people heading in and out of Fanel pass through here?" Nimura nodded,
"Exactly" he complemented her, "That's it perfectly" Nimura motioned to move,
"Come on, we have a few hours so how to do feel about something to eat… I'm sure I could even find some apples," Nimura told her before backing away from the edge, She shrugged,
"Sure…" She answered, "…But your paying"

………

The sunlight beamed through the window as Von sat working at his desk. It may have been nice to have a room with so much light getting through but it did make the room really hot around mid-day. Rising his head from the letter he was reading he looked around his study. It was amazing how little it had changed when everything else in the world had. On the left side of the room his meeting table still sat, his warm fireplace behind him, the bookcases on each side of the window. He sighed, things had been so hectic since he had returned and yet that morning without warning everything just stopped. He had sat at his desk since early that morning and he hadn't been interrupted once. He had been there so long he almost wished someone would interrupt him just for an excuse to stop what he was doing.

He was about to return to his work when a gentle rapping at the door caught his attention and ceasing on the opportunity he called out to them.
"Come in" He invited them and Von's visitor stepped into the small room, her dress whooshing as she entered. Upon stepping into the room she fanned herself with her hand,
"Von you know how hot it is in here" Merle asked, Von looked up at her from under the hot window,
"Yes Merle… I did notice"

Slowly crossing the room she took the seat on opposite side of the desk, and brought her hands to rest in her lap,
"I was wondering if you had heard anything from Nimura or Sadako?" She asked, her voice cracked with concern. Von leaned back in his chair,
"I haven't… other than the letter they left there has been nothing" Von told her with a sigh, "I don't know what their up to, and frankly I don't care but they could at least have told us they where going in person" Merles gaze dropped to her fidgeting hands in her lap, "I see" She said before getting to her, but Von stopped her,
"Wait Merle, there is something I must discuss with you

Merle stopped and took the seat again, without looking up she asked,
"Yes?" Von took a deep breath, but made sure he was looking her in the eyes when he spoke,
"Sadako" Von started, "I thought you should be the first to know… That she is my daughter" Merle didn't move but took a deep breath.
"I had an inkling that that would be the case" Merle told him, "But I appreciate you telling me"
"Could you keep this between us?" Von asked. Merle was about to reply when another knock came to the door and it opened. Merle turned to see who had entered. By the door the tall frame of Onoír waited having just entered the room. Onoír apologized catching sight of Merle,
"I'm sorry Lord, I didn't realize you had company"

Merle got to her feet,
"Don't worry Onoír I was just on my way out" She reassured him, "And Von, that matter we were discussing… Consider it done" Von nodded in reply before she made her way to the door. Brushing past Onoír she said,
"Glad to see back with us" Onoír thanked her,
"Thanks… Its good to be back" Leaving Merle closed the door behind her with a slight bang. Once she was gone the two men where left starring at each other over the room before Von got to his feet. Motioning to his large meeting table at the side of the room he invited Onoír,
"Take a seat"

Von took the seat at the head of the table. Walking to the table very stiffly Onoír took the seat next to his. Removing several long tubes from his bag Onoír placed them onto the table and started to remove their contents. Von sighed,
"How are you doing?" Von asked, "Your wounds healed?" Onoír did not stop what he was doing but answered,
"Well enough, but we have more important matters to attend too Lord"

Once Onoír was finished multiple pieces of paper covered their section of the large table, several detailed maps and others lists. He brought one of the maps to the top of the papers with one of the lists.
"According to our information the force gathering outside Urthas are made up of at least five dozen Gymelef units and two divisions of soldiers. We also have unconfirmed reports of the use of multiple Levi-ships and their new Siege-Tower Gymelef units" Onoír informed Von, "If we move four divisions from Fanel to boaster the defences and all the Gymelef's we can muter we could hold the city and protect against future attacks… Of course we will have to make the movements in secret and with Levi-ships which will be difficult though I'm sure we could do it…" In a quiet voice Von told him,
"We will not be moving any troops to Urthas" Onoír's heart missed a beat,
"What do you mean?" He asked, barely believing his ears,
"Exactly what I said, we will not move troops to Urthas" Von reiterated.

Onoír straightened himself in his chair,
"You realise Néigh is right, that that city will not hold if attacked" He told Von, "You would be abandoning the city to certain defeat" Von sighed angrily,
"No Onoír, answer me this. Say we do hold the city, we are victorious. What then…" Von asked angrily, "What would we do when the next wave of attack comes, and the next, and the next. We are not fighting a normal war here, until we know someone is on our side we have to assume everyone is against us, and that would leave us open to attack from Asturia" Onoír moved his hand through his hair,
"What do you suggest, abandoning the city and running like cowards?" Onoír asked angrily, Von frowned,
"Don't insult me," Von warned him. Onoír shacked his head, frustrated, but pushed the maps to Von,
"Sorry" He apologized, "But if you do have a plan I would like to hear it" Von took hold of the map, and indicated to them,
"I know exactly what is going on and that city will not be surrendered to the enemy, but I cant tell you the plan… yet"

Von leaned back in his chair,
"But hopefully the plan will never have to be put into action" Onoír did not like being left out of the loop on this plan but challenged Von on another issue,
"Why did you not tell me about your planned trip to Asturia? Why did you not ask my opinion?" Onoír asked turning his attention from what lay before them. Von took a deep breath,
"You were injured, I didn't want to disturb you" Von answered through his teeth.
"Bull!" Onoír challenged him, "I've worked with you for along time Von, and I think I deserve the truth" Von was a little taken aback by Onoír's reaction but quickly composed himself,
"Your right," Von told him, "I didn't come to you because I already knew what you where going to say"
"Yes, I would have told you it was a stupid course of action. I would have told you that you should never have done it!"
"That's what I saw you saying, but I had already made up my mind" Von told him, "And even if you had told me it wouldn't have made a difference" Onoír banged his fist off the table angrily, surprising Von.
"Doesn't my position mean anything? That you would just ignore me, or everyone else?" Onoír told him, Von becoming hot under the collar.
"I made a decision as king" Von told him, "Or does that position mean nothing?"
"A king has a responsibility to listen to his advisors, whether they be a few or many. That is how the best course of action is determined" Onoír told him before getting to his feet, "And Von, if you would listen to one piece of advice of mine, it is 'trust no-one' outside the advisors circle. The enemy may have spies everywhere… even if they are tied to us through blood"

He then turned and left before Von could stop him… It was true that Von regretted his course of actions after his return from Zaibach but what's done is done, and there was nothing he could do now but plan for the future. Thinking of what Onoír had said, should he really trust Sadako and Nimura like he has done so far?

………

The sun was dropping from the sky when Onoír was making his way across the streets of Fanel. It had been weeks since he had been out and about in the city and he was happy for this opportunity to go out and see some friends. He had slipped on a brown travelling cloak before he had left the castle for he never liked being recognized in the city. He wasn't sure how the idea of him being this never resting soldier came into peoples minds but it served well for people to believe someone like that protected them… even if it where not true.

His feet echoing off the cobbled stones of the streets. He got a real feeling that the people where more subdued, than when he had been their last. Although it was late afternoon people should still be all over the place, trading and enjoying themselves, oblivious to what was happening in the wider world around them. As he passed into a small side street he tried to forget the unpleasant meeting he had just had with Von. He didn't think it was going to be an easy meeting but he didn't expect it to become that unpleasant.

He eventually reached his destination and without hesitation he entered. As Onoír entered he could see that the bar was all but empty, no customers in sight. At the bar a young lady with long blond hair turned to greet him as he enter,
"Welcome to Sarah's, stranger" Came her voice, which appeared half hearted like she had something else on her mind. Onoír chuckled and lowered his hood, beginning to remove the cloak entirely he asked her,
"Stranger am I? That hurts Jennifer"

Her eyes lit up as she guessed who he was. Ducking under the bar she ran to him and just as he had removed his cloak grabbed him in a well embracing hug. He looked down at the girl, and ruffled her hair,
"Its nice to see you too" He told her, and she backed off from him.
"When did you get out of hospital?" She asked, "I tried to visit but they wouldn't let me in! Can you believe that?!" Onoír laughed,
"Don't worry about it" Onoír told her happily, " They only let soldiers in" Jennifer's eyes widened like an excited child's,
"Well why didn't they tell me that" She complained, "I would have signed up" Onoír laughed and shook his head disapprovingly,
"That's very thoughtful," He told her happily.

Rushing back behind the bar she motioned to a glass.
"You grab a table and I'll get you a drink," She told him happily, "Your usual?" Placing his cloak up by the door he nodded,
"Yeah" He agreed, and took a table only a pebbles throw from the now extinguished fire. Behind the bar Jennifer started to fill a couple of glasses. When she had finished she joined Onoír and placed the bigger of the two glasses in front of him.
"Thank you" He thanked her and she nodded acknowledgement. It wasn't look before Jennifer was looking into her glass mournfully. Onoír failed to notice at first but soon caught the down look in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" He asked, she looked up and tried to act innocent,
"No, no I'm fine… There's nothing wrong," She said, though Onoír wasn't entirely convinced,

"So tell me what's been happening around here?" He asked looking around the room, "Where is everyone?" She sighed her hands holding onto her untouched glass.
"Well after news of the alliance victory in Fraid and Basram arrived we were packed, people celebrating… we could hardly keep the drinks coming fast enough" Jennifer told him, "Its hard to think that was only a few days ago"

Raising his glass for another drink he asked,
"What happened?" After taking her first drink she answered.
"Well some crazy rumours started to get spread around. One really bad rumour can be damaging business and two completely cleared this place out" She answered, "Whether they're true or not they have certainly caused their damage here"
"What kind of Rumours?" He asked, though he had an idea of what the rumours where. She took a deep breath,
"Well the first one came about four days ago. According to it the alliance had ordered the arrest of King Fanel. It caught people by surprise but most people forgot about it once the news of the alliance victories came in" She told him sadly, "This morning another rumour started to circulate, something about Fraid building up an army outside Urthas. Once that hit people just stopped coming until the place was like this"

Onoír just slowly nodded listening to the story,
"Don't worry about it…" Onoír told her; "There will always be a new rumour" She smiled in reply,
"I suppose" Although he wasn't happy she felt better, he couldn't shack a deep feeling of guilt. He had known Jennifer since she was a baby, and now he felt like he was doing no better than lying to the girl. He knew he couldn't tell her the truth but he still felt bad about it.
"Well look on the bright side" Jennifer suggested, cheerily, "At least there is nobody else to serve. You will get a first class service now" Onoír gave a reluctant smile,
"Yeah"

Jennifer was about to speak again when a noise from behind caught her attention. The front door opened and Sarah walked in.
"I can't remember the last time I saw the city so depressed looking…" She mentioned taking off her coat and placing it on the pegs by the door, "…I guess those rumours really are having an effect" Spotting Onoír's cloak she turned and spotted them. Her face lit up,
"Onoír!" She called out happily, "I didn't know you where up and about"
"Yeah" He answered, now becoming a little distracted. Sarah joined them at the table and asked,
"So what are your views on these new rumours of our?" She asked Onoír, he looked away from her gaze. Sarah was always a sharp one, she knew if they where true then he would know, and she wanted that information.
"Now that you're here Sarah I can get on with my reason for being here," He told them sadly, Jennifer looked up.
"Reason?" Jennifer asked looking up. Onoír nodded,
"Yes, this isn't just a social call, I have some news which has not yet been made public"
He told them, both turning their full attention to him.
"Why are you telling us?" Sarah asked,

Onoír took a deep breath, and looked her straight in the eyes,
"Alan Shazar is dead" He said his voice grave. Sarah felt like the air had been knocked out of her, Jennifer likewise,
"He's…" Jennifer barely managed to say; Sarah's breathing slowly became erratic, "…dead" Onoír just slowly nodded in reply. Despite her efforts to control herself Sarah found tears beginning to leak from her eyes.
"How?" She asked, her voice bitted by the tears. Her face fell into her hands, the tears hitting the table. Jennifer turned to her; bring her arms around her,
"Mother… I…."
"HOW!" She yelled, through the tears, "What happened to him?"

………

Time continued to pass without event for Sadako and Nimura. For being the main road to the south of Fanelia it was quite empty, only the odd person crossing their path every few hours. It may have been the main road but its lack of use has caused it to fall into disrepair it becoming overgrown and at times hard to call it a road at all. Nimura attributed this to the lack of traffic between Fanelia and Zaibach, as the road didn't appear to go much else. It was as the sheet of night fell on the second day that Nimura suggested they found a place to stay. Looking to the sky he added,
"And it had better be somewhere with cover, I don't like the look of those clouds" Sadako agreed and they split up in an attempt to find a place to spend the night. It was Sadako; several minutes later who found a small cave only a few hundred meters from the main road. Calling out she informed Nimura of her find,
"Nimura, over here" She called out to him, and soon afterwards they where under the protection the cave had to offer them. It wasn't a deep cave, only about ten meters from the mouth to the back. After leaving the horse with Sadako Nimura retreated out of the cave and started what he hoped would be a short trek for some firewood.

As she waited for Nimura's return she rubbed her hands together for warmth. During the day it had been a nice stable temperature but as the light dimmed she could feel the air itself becoming colder. Then she removed some of their cookery tools, and prepared for Nimura's return. It was a half hour later when he returned his arms weighed down under the wood, and no sooner had he entered the cave the first drops of rain began to fall beyond the entrance.
"Good timing" Nimura commented placing the pile down and began to build the base of the fire. Sadako stopped him,
"You take a rest, and I'll build the fire" She asked him; he shrugged his shoulders and let her get on with it. As the rain outside started to fall heavier and heavier, Sadako finished the fire and set it alight heating the small cave and its occupants. Nimura heated his hands on the fire for a few minutes along with Sadako, and relaxed a little. Turning his gaze to the mouth of the cave, he could see the rain falling from the heavens in great sheets, the drops even bouncing as they hit the already sodden ground. He sighed and turned back to the fire, and caught sight of the cooking tools that lay beside the fire. Lifting them he apologized to Sadako,
"Sorry, I clear forgot," He told her but she just shook her head,
"There is no need to apologize, it is you who is doing the favour," She told him as he prepared some bits and pieces and began to place them in the pot. It was after Nimura had discovered her… under-developed cooking skills that they silently agreed that he would do the cooking on this trip. Watching him working Sadako saw a side of Nimura that she rarely saw, a side more tender than the tough act he played most of the time for the benefit of other.

As the evening rolled on the storm outside continued to become worse if that were possible. As the rain continued to intensify, echoing in the distance the first claps of thunder and the flashes of lightning tore in the sky. As they sat a steaming bowl in front of each of them, they rested. They had been riding all day but they where reaching journeys end. Nimura's mind was bubbling with thoughts and memories. Tomorrow he would meet with Sanjiyan, and then it would all be clearer to him, but until then he was left with his doubts and questions.

"Nimura?" Came the quiet concerned voice of Sadako. He looked up from his bowl,
"Yes?" He replied, "Is the soup not Ok?" She shook her head,
"No, no its fine, I mean you appear very distant" She told him, "You want to talk about it?" He tough for a moment but then shook his head,
"Sorry but id rather not"

Sadako didn't bring it up again but soon afterwards she attempted to distract Nimura's attention from what he was thinking about.
"Nimura? Do you have any good stories of when your father was young?" She asked, and when his eyes lit up she knew she had asked the right question. He nodding, and raised a smiled,
"I have plenty of those" He commented. Sadako could barely believe the sudden change in mood, "Ones perfect for a stormy night like this" Sadako leaned back against the side of the cave and made herself comfortable,
"Alright, lets hear then"

Nimura thought for a moment before deciding on which story he was going to tell
"Ok, prepare yourself for the story of the Last stand of Erráre" Nimura introduced very pompously, and Sadako raised an eyebrow in preparation for the story.

"It was the first war the alliance had been involved in since the Great War and where keen to show that they wouldn't let anyone walk over them. The country they were fighting was called Erráre, a small country to the alliances Western border but strong none the less. It was early in the war that great and deadly weapons where used, and three months after the war was started the remains of the countries forces dwelt in their capitol and prepared the final alliance attack. The final strike force was made up of soldiers and Melefs from all the different alliance nations including Fanelia. Both Von and my father where involved in the battle" Nimura explained to which Sadako listened without comment,
"And what happened?" She asked.
"When they arrived at the city a large battle broke out, a much larger one than was expected" Nimura continued, "It appeared that information they had received prior to the battle was flawed and the enemy was prepared for them. That blunder costed countless lives"

For a long time Nimura told Sadako of countless acts of bravery carried out by his father and some of Von too. It was a truly epic story that he told and she wondered what it was like for people to live and fight in such a battle… would people look back at what they where going through and wonder what it was like for them to live through it. She remembered an old quote she had once been told, said by someone or other,
"We are writing history everyday, in our actions and in or doings," She muttered under her breath just as Nimura finished the story.

"What?" He asked, genuinely interested in her comments. She was about to say that it was nothing when a blast of thunder turned their attentions to the entrance to the cave where the rain was still falling as furiously as ever. The sky outside was now almost pitch black the moon hiding behind the clouds, their only light coming from the happily burning fire.
"Lets hope it stops before morning or we may be flooded out of here" Nimura commented cruelly to which Sadako turned angrily to him.
"That not funny!" She told him angrily.

"Sorry" He apologized, with a shack of his head," But It's rare for Fanelia to get this amount of rain in this season" Sadako turned back to the fire and placed some new wood on it
"Its getting late, we should get some sleep," She added, to which Nimura agreed,
"Yeah" leaning back onto the floor of the cave Sadako saw for the first time the ruff rock that lay above her. She closed her eyes and attempted to make herself comfortable on the hard floor. On the other side of the fire she heard Nimura do the same.
"Good night"

……….

When Sadako opened her eyes again she had moved. The cave was nowhere to be seen, but found herself standing on a large stone wall. To one side laid empty darkness, a cool breeze coming from that side of the city. Although she couldn't see them as such on the other side there where buildings, for she could see some of them outlined against the navy sky. Turning she looked to this side of the walls, and far in the distance she could see large turrets silloeted against the moon in the sky. This was Fanel, she was sure of it.

Continuing to walk down the walls, to what appeared to be the centre she kept looking around her for any change. The walls appeared that they had been prepared for a large battle; sword, bow & arrows, crossbow and other interments of war littered the place. As time passed she was able to see more clearly into the city, the feeling she had been forcing down since she arrived bubbled to the top. She was beginning to get scared. 'Where are all the people?' She thought, the isolation in a city was a strange feeling.

As she continued the feeling of nervousness just got worse. Even in nature there was some noise, but here there was none, nothing… not even the breeze though she could feel it. Wherever she was it was strange indeed, the whole place just felt wrong. She was so distracted by the city that when she finally found someone she didn't realize until she was only a few feet from him. When she saw him, she gasped,
"But… your dead?"

Before her stood the calm, still figure of Alan Shazar… although he was different. His long blue coat was dirtied; it appeared old and destroyed, the rest of his clothes likewise. His face was covered in wrinkles; killing he boyish good looks he kept all the way into middle age and beyond. His hair bleached white; his eyes open wide with fear… but fear of what?

When his voice came it was crackled, as if dead though the words where perfectly clear none the less.

"The past and the present ever connected to the future,
The glory's of old lead to none but this day,
With the conquest of fate, the victory of love,
The future is as planned by the dreamers of ancient's days"

"Prince and Princess shall meet,
Nations shall merge,
Twin Nations, twin kings,
Led by fate the land will rock"

The first two verses where familiar to her, she had heard the same words twice before but she waited to see if there would be a new piece to the puzzle released. Alan took a breath and continued,

"From the fire they shall lead the faithful,
Twin warriors, twin leaders, twin destroyers.
Upon the blood of the mother they shall sound the war,
And all shall return to as it was… Gaea will be no more"

Sadako felt like she had had her breath knocked out of her. A cold feeling like someone had walked over her grave consumed her soul, but still she forced the words deep into her memory. When she looked up at the elderly figure of Alan again she gasped at what she saw. Alan had a sword embedded in his chest, a mask of abstract terror in his face. His legs falling out from under him he fell onto the walls. Sadako attempted to catch him but failed, instead kneeling down next to him,
"Alan?" She asked, "Are you alright" She knew how silly the question was but doubly so when she realised he was dead. Shacking her head, she let several tears escape her eyes. Rising to her feet she was about to yell into the soundless, people-less world when everything changed.

There was a sudden rumbling and then noise and activity everywhere. All around her she could see the marching of soldiers outside the cities walls, their drums playing harshly in the deep of night. Soldiers ran along the walls, swords at the ready, flags of the winged dragon flying high on the flagpoles of the city. The city itself appeared a city of fire, the houses and building burning, people running, screaming in all directions… their homes, their possessions forgotten in the terror. Beside her a soldier started to work with a large wooden interment, and called to her,
"You over there! Hitomi! Help me!" He yelled. She didn't understand, it was almost as if she was on automatic but she not only replied and helped the man but appeared to understand the use of this device she had never seen before. She loaded it before ahead of them a large metal Gymelef stumbled out of the darkness towards them. She could hear her partners breathing but instead of running he held the device harder before it was only a matter of feet from them.

"FIRE" He yelled as if to warn those around them before pulling down a lever on the side of the device. From the device lurched the largest arrow Sadako had ever seen, and it ripped into the Gymelef's armour causing it to fall. Leaning over the wall Sadako saw no signs of life from it.
"Is it dead?" He asked, reloading the device. She nodded returning from the side of the wall, and began to help him reload the device. Above their heads flew a large collection of arrows, burning with flame, though neither of them winced. Several feet from them, a man looking over the side of the walls got hit by an arrow from the enemy. Staggering back he called out before falling off the Fanelian side of the wall. Normally Sadako would have been affected by something like that but she didn't give it a second thought, and didn't understand why. Once they had reloaded the interment Sadako asked,
"Have you seen Dawn?"

The man shook his head,
"I haven't but if I know him at all he would be headed for the front gate… to where the battle will really begin" He told her. Looking around her to the fleeing people, to the battling, to the death and it was going to get worse. She took a deep breath before thanking the man and running on.

As she ran down the wall she heard his voice calling after her, barely audio-able over the sounds of the ongoing battle,
"Good luck" Charging down the walls she saw more death than she had ever seen before in her life, but still it wasn't affecting her in the slightest. She was in the middle of a massive battle and yet she didn't react to it in the way she thought she would. As if continuing on autopilot she started to search for someone. She wasn't sure whom he was or why she was searching but she knew she would know him when she found him and she needed to find him fast.

Above her the heavens opened up rain started to pelt the defenders of the city walls and the enemy un-biasly. Being extra careful not to slip on the now wet stone of the walls she ran as quickly as she could, jumping onto the stairs she glided down into the courtyard that opened out into the gateway of the city. In the distance, on the other side she saw a powerful young man running like her into the courtyard. His brown hair made him very distinctive, his armour, though wet glistened with the reflection of the burning building. He appeared distort, yelling out a name. She breathed a sigh of relief and ran to the man. He was the one she was searching for.

The two met in the centre of the courtyard, the massive gatehouse looking down on their unsolicited meeting. His panic too melted away as he saw her, and they embraced under the continuing battering rain.
"I'm glad I found you Hitomi," he told her, breathing hard.
"Your not the only one" She told him happily, "I have been looking for you"

He pulled her from him and looked down upon her seriously
"I want you to retreat back to the castle…." He told her, she was about to complain when he continued
"I'm serous; we don't know how long we can hold out against this. They're making their big push and Kanzaki is the only safe part of the city. Please go". Sadako didn't know what to say. She wanted to stay and fight but she didn't want to hurt him,
"I…" She started before the sound of moving chains and metal on metal reached their ears. Dawn turned to the gate and away from Sadako; the main gate to the city was opening granting access to the hoards beyond it.
"Treachery!" He yelled, and made to run. Sadako didn't know why she did it but she pulled her knife free and rammed it into Dawn's side with all her strength, before he could run. He turned to her and she dropped the knife, it leaving his lifeblood on her hands. She felt herself possessed.
"Why?" He asked but she could not answer. He fell to his knees before her grasping his side and she began to chant. It came from her body though she wasn't saying the words,
"Tertiary is nowhere, Tertiary is everywhere"

She let out a squeal of pain before falling to the ground herself face first. She felt Dawn lifting her into his arms and his tears landing on her. She repeated, still with no control over herself,
"Tertiary is everywhere, Tertiary is nowhere".

She felt him drop her and fall onto the paved road beside her before he uttered for the last time,
"Why?" Sadako could fell the energy leak out of her before there was an unbelievably large roar of thunder and she awoke.

………

Both Sadako and Nimura where sitting upright, looking straight out the caves entrance in time to see the next blast of lighting and soon afterwards its thunder. The blast was not as loud as the one that awake them but it still dominated the forest outside. Nimura cleared the sweat from his head and turned to Sadako who's breathing was still erratic. He was about to approach her when she normalised, and turned to him.
"That was loud" She commented, and he laughed,
"Yeah"

Under his breath Nimura quoted,
"From the fire they shall lead the faithful" Sadako heard the words though she felt she wasn't meant to. Although she showed no sign of it on the outside her mind began to work furiously, 'He saw it too? The same vision?' She asked herself, and remembered back to when she first came to Gaea, when she was still in Nimura's medical ward. She had had a similar dream and he too had awoken at the same time… did this mean something? Why was he getting glimpse of her visions. She took a deep breath and filed the facts away for her to think over later, she had something else she wished to talk with Nimura about, something she hadn't had the chance too till now.

"Nimura?" She asked, "You heard about Alan didn't you?" Nimura went stone solid and didn't answer for a moment then turned to her his face uncaring.
"Yeah, I heard" Nimura answered uncaringly, the pattering of the rain outside nearly drowning out his words. Sadako's eyes widened at the uncaring nature he was dealing with this… sure he didn't get on with him but didn't he even wish to show respect for the dead.
"How can you just sit there and talk about it like it was nothing?" She asked her voice awash with emotion. Nimura knew to continue along this line would be dangerous but he did so anyway,
"I'm sorry if it offends you Sadako but I just don't care" He told her his voice still lacking emotion, or sympathy of any kind, "He was just another soldier, whom I had no particular connection or like. I don't mean I'm happy he's dead but these things happen"

With her head lowered Sadako got to her feet at the other side of the campfire, and began to move towards him. Nimura too got to his feet, unsure of her actions. She came up to him and raised her head, her features torn with rage. He felt her hand impact with his face, and fall back to her side,
"HE'S DEAD! DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THAT?!" She yelled into his face, "He's gone…" The rage in her face faded away as soon as it had come, her voice becoming weak,
"Don't you understand? He's gone," She told him her voice no more than a whisper, "Like any of us could be… He could only be the first" She could feel the wetness of her tears begin to roll down her face, and fall to her knees in front of Nimura,
"You could be next…" Her voice weaken, her tears now coming more freely. She brought her hands over her eyes to hide them but still they came. Nimura kneeled down in front of her and brought her wrists into his hands. As he moved them from her eyes she fought, trying to keep them there.
"Please, I don't want you to see…"

He continued anyway, and looked into her reddened eyes,
"I'm sorry" He apologized to her, "I didn't want to hurt you" The tears still coming she brought him into a tight embrace, her face resting in his shoulder. He brought his arms around her, and attempted to comfort her,
"I'm sorry," his voice echoed, and outside the rain slowly stopped falling.

………

When Nimura looked up at the sky as they rode down the road the sun blinded him. It was beating down on them like the storm of the previous night was no more than a dream. They had been riding for several hours and he was quite sure that they were now approaching the great lake.

It wasn't too long before his eyes confirmed this, as the trees began to thin. Soon enough they had to slow their ride as the crystal clear waters of the lake first came into sight. Sadako turned, bringing the horse down to the waters edge, taking them off the road, which bypassed the lake. She came to a complete stop at the waters edge and sat hypnotised by the beauty.

It was clear to her why they called it 'The great lake'. They where looking over a massive expanse of waters, so far you couldn't see the other side. The sun came down unto the surface making the water shine like crystal. Within the centre of the lake there was a small island, which appeared to be covered with trees though Sadako couldn't be sure from their distance. The waters edge appeared to be rocky, hundreds of small stones surrounding the lake like a wall of sorts. Nimura too seemed hypnotised by the sight though he recovered himself before Sadako and stepped off the horses back. He hit the pebble surface with a clump and took several steps before looking back, stretching.

"Well here we are, the great lake" Nimura commented darting his eyes along the shoreline… there was no sign of Sanjiyan, or at least not yet. Jumping from their horse Sadako joined him in surveying the area.
"So what do we do now?" She asked, to which he answered,
"We wait," Returning to the horse Sadako led it up to the edge of the forest and tied it up near some grass for it to graze before returning to the waters edge. Sitting on the edge of the lake Sadako began to pick up the odd pebble and skim it across the waters surface. With each impact the surface was disrupted, ripples advancing throughout the lake… cause and effect.

Nimura sat down next to her, but didn't join in with her game, he just watched enjoying the sun, waiting. As luck would have it he didn't have to wait long before hooves caught his attention. From the opposite side of the road, the side leading to Zaibach a horse was coming down the road with a large man saddled. His black hair and beard meant it could only be one man.
"Sanjiyan" Nimura commented, turning Sadako's attention to the man for the first time. Nimura got to her feet and she was about to follow when Nimura shook his head,
"Stay here… This is something I need to do alone" She nodded and sat back down, allowing him to go meet the rider. As Nimura crossed to him, he heard Sadako return to skimming rocks again behind him.

Watching Nimura coming too him Sanjiyan leapt from his horse and waited his arrival next to the beast. Nimura stopped several feet from him, but waited for him to speak first.
"So you came," Sanjiyan commented,
"I did" Nimura replied, "Now I want questions answered" Sanjiyan nodded,
"That's what the letter promised"

"Was Letús involved in my kidnapping?" Came Nimura's first question and Sanjiyan smiled,
"Right to the point as always Nimura…" He answered, "Yes, Letús was involved, more so it was he who ordered it" Nimura's heart was breaking though he wouldn't let Sanjiyan see that. The man, who raised him, was the one who caused all of his hardship, pain everything.
"Please elaborate" Nimura asked, his voices tone no different than before.
"In the early days when the rebels first came into being, we wanted to strike a blow that would force the alliance to listen without bloodshed. For this it was decided that we would kidnap someone of prominence, or close to someone of prominence in the alliance. That way they would have to listen to us without anyone being killed." Sanjiyan explained, "Talús and I were sent to kidnap you from Fanel, though things didn't go according to plan. As I'm sure you remember we crashed and when we came too you where gone"

Sanjiyan took a deep breath before continuing,
"When we returned empty handed, Talús decided it was better for us to cover ourselves, so you died in the crash. When you appeared with Letús, Talús nearly had a fit and decided we had to get rid of you before he found out who you where" Sanjiyan told him, "I thought he was going to threaten you, or something I had no idea he wanted you dead. That's why I helped you out, though you didn't recognise us, and didn't talk about your passed anyway so nobody discovered the truth. I attempted to atone for what I had put you through by helping you, but as time passed I found that I started to think of you as a friend, a feeling that has continued to this day" Sanjiyan stopped for a moment before finishing his story,
"I am sorry for how I acted in Fanel, I know you are no traitor"

Nimura narrowed his eyes, unsure what to make of the story, or his ending words,
"What makes you think I'm not a traitor, I betrayed you to Fanel did I not?" Nimura asked sarcastically, but Sanjiyan frowned.
"You are forgetting we have eyes and ears everywhere. We have not missed the actions of Von Fanel… his trip to Zaibach, were he even met one of our people. His trip to Asturia where rogue elements of the alliance tried to have him killed and the army gathering on Fanelia's western border at this very moment. Lord Fanel has stumbled into something he shouldn't have and is being punished for it"
"I have always acted in the best interest of our people" Nimura commented, and Sanjiyan nodded,
"I know that now"

Sanjiyan became hasted as if he was running out of time,
"Nimura we want you to return with us, return to your people" Sanjiyan asked him, and Nimura just looked at his feet as if considering the rash proposal. Sanjiyan quickly added,
"You can even bring her if you like" He told him, but raising his head Nimura shook it sadly.
"I'm sorry but I cant, I have more important things to do in Fanel, only through the alliance can we truly change things in Zaibach, I see that now. I must stay" It was Sanjiyan's turn to shack his head,
"Listen Nimura, I see things moving that you couldn't see. Things are happening, that nobody can possibly stand in the way of… the pieces of a game of chess. The alliance, Zaibach, Entóntria, we are all pones in a larger game, controlled by some yet unseen force. The occupation of our home, the wars with Erráre and Entóntria, battles within the alliance and the wolves…are all these coincidences. No, someone is preparing the board for something no one can see. Fanel will fall, and you will die if you go back. We must weather this for our people. Once this is over the Alliance will stand no more in Gaea, and Zaibach must be ready for that day"

Nimura shook his head,
"What are you talking about, you're not making any sense" Sanjiyan took a step towards him,
"Please Nimura, I know it sounds crazy but you must listen to me. The alliance will fall into ruin, and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Its leaders are bent on self destruction and will take you with them" Nimura didn't have a clue what to think of this collection of facts which were closer to a conspiracy theory that truth. He shook his head trying to make sense of some of it. Sanjiyan placed his hand on Nimura's shoulder,
"Please come with me, come home to your family" Sanjiyan asked him, but Nimura pulled away from him violently, looking up at Sanjiyan angrily.
"Zaibach is not my home!" Nimura yelled, "My family betrayed me, I will not return and you are not my friend!"

Sanjiyan was taken back, straightened himself and took several steps to his horse,
"Is that your final decision, you will not get another chance?" He asked, and Nimura nodded,
"My family is here, my home is here," Nimura told him and he sighed before getting onto his horse.
"I'm sorry to hear that" He told him before preparing his horse to depart,
"And Letús will when I tell him" He finished before galloping his horse into a run from Nimura. He raised his head quickly, his heart beating three times the speed it should, 'What's that meant to mean?" He thought before yelling
"What's that mean!" he yelled after Sanjiyan but no reply came. Running along the waters edge Nimura headed back to the forests border and to their horse. His heart was pounding his mind foggy… 'What was that meant to mean?'

Sadako watched him before jumping to her feet and ran after him though he had a lot of ground on her,
"What's going on?" She called after him, but he ignored her. Pulling the horse free he jumping into the saddle and veered it forward aggressively. Galloping it into a run he flew passed Sadako who had to jump back to avoid being hit by the animal.
"What are you doing?!" She yelled after him but again he ignored her keeping his mind focused on finding Sanjiyan

Forcing the beast to go as fast as it could he cleared the lake in a matter of minutes and followed Sanjiyan into the forest. His heart was still racing, all he knew was he needed to know what he meant, 'Does that mean he's alive?" He thought to himself, ducking under a low hanging branch. All Nimura knew was which general direction Sanjiyan had gone in, he didn't even know if he was really following him but he had no choice but to try… he had to catch him. Nimura chased in the same direction for hours before he finally turned back and returned to the great lake the same question still on his thoughts,
"What did he mean?"

………

It was mid-day on the sixth day after Sadako and Nimura left. The sun was burning outside, though people were still enjoying it while they could. Von and Merle however where not enjoying the sun, they were waiting, waiting for an old friend to come. Von sat on his throne in the Fanelian royal throne room, with Merle at his side. The room was not dark, beams of light passing in through the skylights in the roof above, causing large rectangular beams of light across the marble floor. Von looked tired, as he sat, as through he hadn't slept in days. Merle wore a concerned face, as she sat beside her king and friend.

Merle turned to him,
"Are you sure you want to do this?" She asked, to which he shook his head,
"I don't want to do this, but need to. This is our only chance," He told her. She took his hand and squeezed it,
"I will always be here, if you need me" She told him with a faint smile, and he turned to her,
"I know Merle" he told her gravely, "Like you always have been"

At the end of the hall, the two large oak doors that lead into the thon room were opened respectfully and Néigh walked into the room. Walking forward he looked around himself, taking in the room around him. Once he reached the thrones at the back of the room he kneeled to his king.
"You sent for me lord?" He stated, before Von waved for him to stand up.
"Such pleasantries are not needed here," He told Néigh. Néigh nodded and stood.

"I have asked you to come, for I have considered your request for additional soldier for Urthas" Von told him sadly, "And have decided not to give them to you" Néigh looked as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing,
"Why lord?" He asked hoping for an answer,
"We cannot protect Urthas effectively against this army for to do so would weaken other parts of Fanelia" Von told him, "We cannot weaken ourselves when we are surrounded by our enemies" Néigh bowed his head and sighed deeply,
"I understand Lord, what are my orders should hostilities commence?" He asked, and Von stood up taking several steps towards him.
"If that should happen, I need you to hold the city for as long as possible. The more time we have the longer we have to prepare the rest of the kingdom for the coming conflict" Von told him, placing his hand on the mans shoulder, "Every day will count"

"As you wish" He told Von and prepared himself to leave. Von held him back with his hand,
"Don't get yourself killed" Von asked him, too which he turned to Von with a smile,
"I have no intention of dying," He told Von, "I will hold the city as long as I can…Régula Fanelia, we shall prevail"

Turning on his heel he marched from the throne room leaving Von and Merle together alone once more. Von told a deep breath, and fell to his knees. Merle immediately pulled herself to her feet and came to his aid,
"What's wrong?" She asked, Von answering,
"Why do I feel like I have sent a friend to his death?"

………

Nimura and Sadako headed back to Fanel in a more leisurely pace than they had on the way south, but they still made it back to the city on the sixth day after their departure. The sun was burning in the sky, but the cities streets where still packed with happy people going about their business. As they passed through the cities guard houses memories of her vision echoed in her mind… would that actually happen, would Fanel burn?

As they approached the castle Nimura and Sadako split up, Nimura saying there was something important he needed to do right away and he headed off towards his room. Sadako went in search of Von and one of his advisors directed her to the throne room. Passing into the room prior to the massive throne room, one of the men she remembered from the night they arrived back in Fanel, Néigh, walked out seemingly distracted. He almost knocked her off her feet as he exited,
"Sorry" He rushed the apology before continuing out of the room. She was about to enter when she heard voices from the slightly open door, Von and Merles.

"What's wrong?" Came Merle's voice, too which Von answered
"Why do I feel like I have sent a friend to his death?" Sadako decided not to enter but listened instead,
"What makes you feel that way?" Merle asked.
"Do you really believe he has a chance of stopping that army?!" Von yelled angrily, "I have just signed his death warrant through sending him there with no backup!"
"Do you really believe that?" Merle asked, her voice saddened.

"Open your eyes Merle! If they attack we are going to lose! Urthas, Fanelia, Fanel! We can't win this alone! If we fight we are dead, all of us. Five on one is an un-fightable war. Perhaps I should just surrender, for the sake of the people," Von told her angrily, spite in his voice,
"COWARD!" Merle yelled at him, "The Von I know would never take the Cowards way out. If you surrender then they win" Von took a deep breath and looked up into her fierce eyes, his old power returning to him,
"Your right… I wont let them win," He told her, confidence returning to him, "Whether it be fighting to the last, we will not surrender this country that we rebuilt from the ruins of the old. Even if we have to fight the whole of Gaea, Fanelia will not be dishonoured"

Sadako had heard enough, she could feel her heart beating within her chest. She had no idea that things were this bad, that it would threaten the very existence of Fanelia, or the life of her father. Within moments she had decided what she was going to do. Turning she ran from the room and out of the castle, bumping right into Nimura as she went. She smiled, grabbing his hand and pulling him down the stairs into the city.
"Come with me" She told him, continuing to pull him before he protested,
"Where are we going?"

"We have to get help, we have to help Fanelia!" She told him, he not understanding at all.
"What are you talking about?" He asked, "What do you mean?" She let out a frustrated sigh,
"'If they attack we are going to lose! Urthas, Fanelia, Fanel! We can't win this alone!'" Sadako quoted, "This are Von's own words… We need to get help, get other members of the alliance on our side, anything… or it is over" She told him to which he nodded, agreeing.
"Alright but first" He stopped, and indicated for her to stay there,
"I'll be back in a sec"

He ran down the street and coming up to 'Sarah's Inn' he pulled a small brown envelope out from his pocket. Dropping it through the letterbox it hit the floor inside with a thud. Turning he then rushed back to Sadako ready to start another adventure, to leave Fanel far behind them and open new horizons. With the weight of a kingdom on their shoulders it was time for Sadako and Nimura to leave. As he reached her he said,

"Alright, lets go"

End of Chapter Seven
………
Butch Cassidy
12.07.04 (Euro-Date system DD.MM.YY)
………

Author Message
………Now, that was long. Forty pages, FORTY PAGES! This is the largest single part of anything that I have written (20,500 words), and I hope I don't make a habit of it. Too long. Well that was the seventh chapter of The Descended Shadow and things are beginning to heat up. Explanations, stories, anguish and war brewing. What's next? Well that's what Chapter eight is for.

In this chapter I have set up the chain reactions that will lead right to the end of the series… so good fun ahead. Anyone who paid close attention should recognise a lot of connections and references to previous Descended parts and some to Shadows of the past, as always.

If you do enjoy The Descended Shadow, you really should read Shadows of the Past, the twin story of this one. It follows Hitomi's return to Gaea four years after the original Escaflowne and prepares for this series. Both operate on the same single running storyline and if you only read one of them you will miss bits though both can be enjoyed on their own. Give Shadows a shot, if you have time anyway.

Time for a shameless plug of my website now. Butchs Fan Fiction Forum is my website dedicated to holding Fan Fiction written by me and some other authors so have a look if you like my stuff. The site also includes lots of extra stuff connected to the Fan Fictions including Histories, Concept art and maps, FAQ's, and reviewing abilities. You can also access all the parts of things in multiple formats (.txt, .doc, .html) if wanna save the fan fictions for later reading

Now chapter eight will be out in early September if I have anything to say about it, though unexpected events may delay, as is always the case. As always I love to receive feedback, reviews and questions about my chapters which you can either email me at the address below or through a review.

So until next time have fun, and see you later,
Butch Cassidy

Email –
Web –

………

Cast #Ref Chapter VIII (Alphabetical) –

OC – Original Character
NC – New this chapter

Alan (OC) – Knight of Celia, friend to Von and Merle. Killed in Chapter 6.
Chid (OC) - Duke of Fraid, really son of Alan Shazar
Dawn – Nimura's father (#Ref Shadows of the past)
Dryden (OC) - Husband to Milerna and king of Asturia. Interesting man
Gearoid - Man in a black cloak, found seen in Chapter 2.
Hitomi (OC) – Sadako's mother, originally from earth
Jennifer – Sarah and Gaddes's daughter. Childhood friend of Nimura
Letús - Original leader of Nimura's rebel cell. Father figure to Nimura.
Luke – Sarah and Gaddes's son. Not in Fanel. Family refuse to comment
Merle (OC) – Close friend and confident of Von, mother-like figure to Nimura
Nimura - Originally leader of Rebel cell, now close friend of Sadako's
Néigh (NC) - Governor of Urthas, the second city of Fanelia
Onoír – Head of Fanelia's armies, advisor to Von. Lead attack on rebels (P2)
Poker - Von's main advisor. Doesn't always agree with Von's decisions.
Sarah - Wife of Gaddes and mother of Jennifer. Owner of Sarah's bar.
Sadako – Hitomi's daughter, epicentre of the series
Sanjiyan – friend of Nimura', but turned on him believing him to be a traitor
Talús – Member of rebels, old favourite for leadership, killed by Onoír (P2)
Von (OC) – King of Fanelia. Need I say more?