Before you ask me; No, this is NOT the last chapter. I have a few more in store, besides, when you've read the story you'll know why.
Oh, and my greatest thanks to s2teennovelist for giving me the idea of Atemu's desire. I'm sure you'll know what you've done when you read it ^^. I'm quite pleased to how this chapter turned out. If I remember correctly it took me an hour to write and correct it all and my heart was beating like a drum. I hope you lot will enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it^^
Don't forget to rewiew when you're done reading!
The end
When Yuniko grew up this field was her playing ground. Here the beasts of the forest watched over her as she played with their cups. Bears and wolves stood side by side with their preys when she was there, for a short second not interested in hunting or hiding. Around Yuniko the forest turned into Eden. Malin had watched this Eden during her time by the princess's side, protected by her light and love.
This field had been Guardian's hunting grounds. He had loved the field since it gave good prays and was near the treasure's home. As Sky grew up he too hunted on the field.
This field was a home to many small animals such as rabbits, mice, moles and voles. Under its green surface was a maze of holes, homes and hideouts.
This field was filled with important herbs. When she was alive Lisa picked her healing herbs here. Solomon sent his personnel to pick spices and ingredients for tea and soup. The stablemen came here to look for the smelly herbs to wash the horses' skin with to get rid of parasites and fleas. In the autumn children from the castle and villages around came here to pick mushrooms that grew on the outside of the northern forest.
This same field had seen the battle between the Battle Princess and the ghouls the Vampire Lord had sent for her. It had seen the princess's strength and determination. It had seen Father Scot be killed.
On this field stood a large number of stones, with and without names. An empty graveyard where people came to mourn and pray to God to spare their loved ones' souls.
Here, on this field that was so important for so many, Yuniko, former queen of Scotland, the Battle Princess, faced her tormentors, some of them having had their names carved on the memory stones.
Yuniko felt it like a tsunami of sharp, deathly ice came towards her when the vampires broke their lines and headed for her.
We must break through to brother, Yugi said.
This is the last battle, Yohim said. Her memories of the battle she had fought five hundred years ago were so clear she shivered.
God breathed into Yuniko's neck and she raised her sword and put her heels into Unicorn's sides with an ear-piercing war cry.
Light and Darkness collided in an explosion of something indescribable. The cross around the Battle Princess's neck shone like a star, her sword sending flashes of holy light into the dark beings coming to kill her.
Unicorn's horn shot red flashes everywhere, making it impossible to go near her without being hit by the untamed electricity. Above Sky fought with beak and claws surrounded by his father's protecting golden soul.
Yohim, Yuniko and Yugi were suddenly three different beings. Yohim held out the cross, using its light as a sword. Yuniko on Unicorn's back swung her sword around, cutting through beings she could no longer see. Yugi, not able to use any tool, used pure magic, blue-green, spear-like snakes cutting through the enemies.
Behind the first line of vampires suddenly came another, these ones stronger, older and more experienced. Unprepared as they were Yuniko was hit off Unicorn's back, Sky lost a few feathers of his left wing, Yugi gained a cut in his side, leg and cheek. Only Yohim and Unicorn managed to stay unharmed.
For six whole seconds Yuniko had to fight from a lying position. Unicorn came to her rescue and gave her mistress enough breath to stand, but there would come no chance of getting back up on the mare's back. With these stronger vampires they were all slowly pushed back.
"She is impressive to watch," Crow said with a smirk where he watched in the back.
Atemu said nothing. His eyes stared at the scene emptily, but on the inside his human self fought with all he could to get through everything else that was between him and his sister. But he knew it was already too late. There was no way he could save her now. God had already claimed her.
Soon, Sanguis whispered to him. Soon you will have her. Soon you will have reached your dreams.
Dreams?
A thought broke through the mix of insanity. I do not want them!
"Here comes the third line," Yohim warned as the wall of dark bodies subsided.
"How many more?"
"This and one."
Sky was loosing strength. Unicorn was scared without Yuniko on her back. Yugi was hurt in both legs. Yohim had gotten badly bit in the shoulder and her braid was missing, making the lose hair fall into her vision.
Yuniko stood, blood flowing freely from a wound under her left arm and right hip, and sent a powerful wave of white light straight onto the line of red-eyed black bodies. Her move was taken by surprise by the vampires that halted their rush, making them easier targets for the united attack of the Battle Princesses and the two holy animals.
My blood is poisonous for vampires. The thought rose in Yuniko's mind without warning and her eyes widened. Wielding her sword with her left arm Yuniko wet her right hand with the blood from her wounds and cast the droplets of blood against the vampires who opened their mouths to taste it. What happened next no one was prepared for. The blood started a chain reaction of white explosions. For a second everything stilled, Yuniko as surprised as her enemies and allied together.
Sanguis suddenly cried out in anger and a wave of pure darkness hit the Battle Princesses, Sky and Unicorn full force.
Yuniko cried as she suddenly felt her own as well as everybody else's pain and wounds. The vampires roared as they were pulled back by their Lord's powers. To him they were mere dolls he played with and used to fight the Battle Princess he loved and hated so dearly.
Atemu felt like throwing up when all the other vampires were suddenly pushed right into his being. Crow backed away, running from his Lord's insane rage.
"He is focusing his power, instead of sending them at us separated."
Yohim was the first to return into Yuniko's wounded being, giving her new energy, enough to stand up for another moment. Yugi put down the warm and bloody body of Sky and followed the past.
Unicorn, lying with two broken legs and seriously wounded, let go of her soul. Yuniko stared at her friend, her partner, her Unicorn, terrified, horrified, knowing exactly what had just happened.
Always love mistress, the horse said and gave her soul to the bloodstained cross.
"No." The whisper died in the stillness. From the sables of the white castle a pained neighing was heard. Shadow cried out his grief of his lost daughter.
Sky made a sad sound in his throat.
Turn around.
Yugi's voice was unbelievingly strong and safe. Yuniko had to obey him.
There, slowly walking towards her, was a being that had once been her brother. His eyes were glowing of insanity, staring at her with only one wish.
Stand up. How could Yugi's voice be so safe and determined? Brother is still there. We must reach him.
Yuniko nodded and obeyed. Yohim was strangely quiet, but she was still there, concentrating on keeping Yuniko standing. Yugi collected the treasure's thoughts, reminding her why she was here, what she protected, why she fought. Why Unicorn had given up her life.
She could not help you alive.
The being that had once been Atemu smirked evilly at her, its eyes flashing with madness. "Ready to follow your pet's example?"
"When I have freed you, my brother." The treasure's voice was calmer than her eyes. But the clear, blue gaze was steady. Her mind was set, her heart was beating. She was still alive.
Sanguis stared at her through his monster's eyes. "Free who, Battle Princess?"
One chance. They would both have only one chance.
Sanguis monster loaded a ball of pure, dark emotions, shadows and the ashes of vampire corpses covering the ground.
The Battle Princess held her sword and filled it with all her wishes, her belief and the one single dream she had ever allowed herself to dream. They launched at each other.
At the great wall of the white castle stood queen Yuniko's friends, soldiers and servants watching the explosions of light on the shadowed field north of them. It was past midnight already and no light could be hinted from Heaven. Most of the people were crying, giving up before the end of the battle. It was so easy to do so. The queen had said so herself; "Humans can not fight vampires". But the queen was a human.
Somewhere among the people stood a small group with dry and almost unblinking eyes. Malin was holding onto the wall's stones with Joey's safe arm around her shoulders. Honda stood with his white hands on Kyoko and Joey's shoulders. Ryouko held hands with her guard and in the middle Kyoko held her sister's and Malin's hands in a firm grip. She was calm and safe, like a cliff in this storm of emotions raging around her. Her blue eyes followed the glowing blue being in the darkness that ruled beyond the barrier they had created.
From somewhere inside a song rose through Kyoko's throat. It came from the past, it came from the future, it came from now, it came from outside, it came from within. It came from everyone and everywhere and from nowhere.
She started to sing.
Tell me what has happened
Why is the sun not shining?
And why is the moon and stars not joining us tonight?
But the light in the princess
Is lightening up her kingdom
Darkness can not hide it
She is shining even now
---
Sun and moon and all the stars
Hope is guiding all our hearts
She, beloved queen, will never leave our side
In her light there is no fear
She is drying every tear
Never in the known time has a heart shone pure like hers
---
Let this nightmare end soon
And let our queen be unharmed
Free the kingdom from what has tormented her so long
Give us hope forever
Our princess, let her return
Let no darkness hurt her
She is all to us who watch
---
Sun and moon and all the stars
Hope is guiding all our hearts
She, beloved queen, will never leave our side
In her light there is no fear
She is drying every tear
Never once in my life have I heard of light like hers
Sanguis's monster cast his dark spells at God's chosen one. Yuniko cut through the first with her sword. It broke apart from the intensity and she had to throw it away. Still she launched forward.
The second spell she cut through with her magic. She came through, but her skin got torn in the sharp shards of the broken force. She could not use it a second time.
The third spell. Sanguis's monster would have no more to throw after this one. She was close, so close. Just three more steps.
'God help me!'
A golden soul passed her from above. Sky and Guardian cut through the third spell, clearing the way of their loved treasure.
The cross flashed in Yuniko's hand, its long end suddenly sharpened to a long dragger.
Sanguis's mind left the body of his created monster, leaving it with a feeling it was unfamiliar with; Fear.
God's cross buried itself in the monster's body.
Sun will shine tomorrow
Moon comes out from its hideout
Stars are twinkling down at us who wait for her return
Princess of our hearts' hope
Queen of sun and starlight
We will always love her, though she never may return
For a second that stretched into eternity everything stilled. Nothing moved, nothing breathed, nothing saw or heard. It lasted for only a second.
Sanguis's monster exploded. All the beings that had been within it were set free. Freed from the chains of life, freed from pain and hunger, freed from their mad desires, and freed from what had tormented them for so long.
God's breath blew them all in the face and opened his Heaven for them, welcoming them all with open arms. They cried tears of joy, relief and gratefulness and God took them into his arms.
One of them stayed behind.
"Sister."
"You are free now, my brother." Yuniko was smiling, looking at her brother in a world that didn't exist for anybody else. But Atemu didn't seem happy. He fell to his knees in a sign of utter defeat.
"I am so sorry, my sister. I am so sorry."
Yuniko kneeled down in front of him and placed her hands on his slumping shoulders. "I am the one who betrayed you, brother. I am the one asking you for forgiveness."
Atemu shook his head. "To me, you were always a little girl in need of protection." Teardrops hit the floor he sat on. "Forgive me for not understanding, I could never protect you. From anything."
"You are forgiven. Forever forgiven, my brother. I love you, and love forgives everything."
To Yuni's utter surprise and horror Atemu seemed even more devastated at her soft declaration.
"You have become a saint," Atemu said softly, lifting his head a little.
Yuniko looked at him in concern. "Yes. I am God's chosen one."
"God is jealous," Atemu almost hissed, reaching up and grabbed Yuniko's upper arms. "He wanted you to himself. God's saints must be virgins. If anything threaten their virginity… God rather kill his saints, than let them be taken from him."
Yuniko paled slightly. "Brother…"
"I did not want God to have you. I wanted to make sure you never became a saint. That way God could not claim you as his own." Atemu looked up enough for his younger sister to see his eyes, filled with regret, self-contempt and grief. "I wanted to have you. My desire was to steal you from God, so that we could always be together, even in death."
"What are you talking about, brother?"
"Do you not know?" Atemu looked up at her for the first time. "God's saints are not allowed into Heaven. They must stay behind on Earth and watch over the world."
Yuniko felt only surprise. "I must stay on earth?"
Atemu suddenly started to lift from where he sat, on his way to Heaven where God awaited him.
"I wanted to be with you. I wanted us to always be together." Their arms glided over each other in vain attempt to stay together, but Yuniko was too heavy and still alive. She was not allowed to go with him.
She smiled at him, tears filling her eyes for the first time in a long, long time. Last time she cried was when her brother died. Now she did it again, because now he finally was allowed to die. "I love you anyway, brother," she said through her tears. "And we will be together again. I promise you that."
Atemu's hands were ripped from her grasp, but his tears still rained down on her like snow.
When the light faded Yuniko stood in the middle of the battle field with her arms raised to the sky where she had last seen her beloved brother. She would never see him again in this life.
Sanguis, furious at the loss of almost his entire army, stepped out of the forest and launched at the young girl who stood there. She noticed him and let her arms fall, staring at him approaching. Yohim's tired eyes looked out of Yuniko's, looking for the man she loved within the monster that wanted them dead.
In the darkness behind Sanguis though suddenly something much darker than human are able to imagine appeared and a huge hand reached out and grabbed the monster in his dash.
I am sorry
The words were cold and without a voice, but the Devil was at least kind enough to leave the humans his doll had devoured behind and only pull his created being back with him. God picked up the lost souls and with one final breath left for his holy throne above in the light.
Sun and moon and all the stars
Hope is guiding all our hearts
She, beloved queen, will never leave our side
In her light there is no fear
She is drying every tear
Never will I leave this spot if she does not return
On the field where princess Yuniko had played as a child, where she had loved the animals, where animals lived and herbs the humans needed grew, now stood a lonely statue of white stone, her arms rides towards the sky above. Around her, when spring returned, life would return, grass and herbs would grow and new animals would make their home in the soil. But now it was a chaos of blood, ashes, long dead corpses, limbs and broken weapons. Among the corpses were a golden eagle and a white mare, both of them covered in blood.
When the day returned Joey took a few soldiers, Malin, Ryouko and Kyoko with him to the northern field. There they found the bloody chaos the night's battle had left behind. Malin kneeled by Unicorn's corpse for a long time, who knows what she remembered or what she thought of. Kyoko picked up the body of Sky and held it close to her chest. There were no tears shed until they realized what the white statue in the middle of the chaos was.
"Yuniko…" It was just a whisper, but it completely broke the dam of all the people who heard it. Malin stared at the statue's calm face with tears streaming down her cheeks in uncontrolled rivers. Some of the soldiers fell to their knees and buried their faces in their hands. Their stronger friends put vainly comforting hands on their shoulders, because they cried just as much as their kneeling friends. Ryouko and Kyoko stood leaning on each other sobbing quietly.
Joey, standing in front of the still statue, felt like he was dying, ripped apart from inside out. Yuniko. Scotland's beloved queen, the guiding star of the kingdom, the protector of the people and so much more. How was life going to continue for them all, now when she was no longer with them?
He touched the statue's face and placed his forehead against the cool stone.
'You can not leave,' he thought to the statue. 'You can not just leave us.'
Warm hands suddenly cupped his cheeks, drying the tear that just fell. I will never leave.
Joey looked up, but only saw the unmoving face of Scotland's former queen. Yet he still felt the warm touch on his cheeks. He straightened his back and wiped away his tears.
"We must bury the dead bodies."
"Jo… Sire. We can not…"
Joey, the new king of Scotland, turned to them. "She would have wanted it so. We can not leave Sky and Unicorn here. Have you forgotten how much she loved them? Have you forgotten they were the only ones she allowed to come with her to fight this war?"
Ashamed the soldiers looked down.
"Yuniko is still here among us," Joey said as steadily as he could. "We will always love her in our memories. She was… she is a saint. She has not left."
Kyoko suddenly voiced her opinion.
Sun will shine tomorrow
Silver smile of moon rays
Heaven, Earth or below
She will never leave our side