FALL SEVEN TIMES

by Ulquiorra9000

Chapter 22

"Mizuki! Please get up, darling. Are you going to lay in bed all day?"

Mizuki blinked her eyes open and sat up in her bed in her family's small cabin. Through the window, she saw the morning-lit trees of the Jukai Forest, and her fellow villagers going about their morning chores. Birds sang and a breeze rustled the tree leaves.

Mizuki's mother, Tomiko, stood in the doorway, an exasperated smile on her face. "Mizuki, your sister is already working in the garden. Don't make her work all alone."

"Sorry, mom." Mizuki groaned and slid out of bed. "See? Already up."

"Your breakfast is already ready. Get a move on, will you?" Tomiko's smile widened as she left and shut the bedroom door behind her.

Mizuki quietly changed into her everyday yukata, a garment of dark green fabric common to this area with a red sash. Why had she been dreaming of a faraway castle? Strange!

After wolfing down the promised breakfast, Mizuki stepped outside and ran right into her father, Keito. "Sorry, dad."

"My mistake. Should have looked where I'm going," Keito said with a quick laugh. He already had his trapper equipment slung over his broad shoulder. He looked down at his daughter. "What's wrong? You're pale, Mizuki."

"Is Mizuki finally up? About time," came a girl's voice, and Hana rounded the corner of the house, an impatient look on her face. "Come on! You're so slow sometimes!"

Mizuki stuck her tongue out at Hana. "Good luck out there, dad," she told Keito. "Gonna have a good time?"

Keito nodded. "I've got a good feeling about today." He set off. "I love you girls very much."

Hana waved. "I love you, dad!"

Mizuki waved too, watching Keito tromp down the village's central dirt road.

The sun went dark.

"Mizuki!" Hana yelped in terror. She hopped back, and her feet splashed in black oil that seeped out of the ground.

Now everyone in the village cried out in horror, the ground buckling as more oil bled out. Then dark shapes emerged from the soil, long blades of chrome and steel that flexed like fingers.

Fresh blood mingled with the pooling oil as blades eviscerated the townsfolk, and Mizuki could only stare in numb shock as the bodies fell. She barely managed to turn her head, and she saw Hana's bloody form splash face-down into the rising oil tide.

Now, long, skeletal hands reached up and dragged Mizuki down, the metallic fingers clamping shut over her mouth, scrabbling at her throat -

"Mizuki!"

The bed felt hard. Or rather, the floor did, and Mizuki realized that she had fallen out of the bed she and Morrel had shared that night. She shivered on the wood-paneled floor, her hair damp with sweat, her chest rapidly rising and falling. Moonlight glowed through the room's narrow window.

Mizuki realized that it was Morrel who had called her name that last time. Morrel now knelt by her, gently taking hold of her shoulders.

"I-I'm fine," Mizuki panted, her body still quivering. She gulped; it still felt like Phyrexian hands were seizing her throat.

"You screamed and fell out of bed," Morrel told her, helping her sit up. In the moonlight, concern filled his eyes. "It was so sudden."

"I..." Mizuki sighed. "I've had a few nightmares. Ever since the Phyrexians showed up. I-I remember another one... I was trying to find you in a fog. You weren't there."

Morrel only stared, apparently lost for words.

Mizuki got to her feet and looked out the window. Beyond her lay not the Jukai Forest, but the rolling hills of Bant, dotted by fruit tree orchards, rhox monk huts, and ponds covered in lily pads. Stars shone in the sky, and in their light, a few aven swooped along on patrol.

Home is far away.

"Do you want any water?" Morrel asked gently.

Mizuki nodded.

She gulped down the offered water and kept staring out the window, as though expecting the Phyrexians to suddenly emerge here as well. "I dreamed of home."

Morrel joined her by the window and tenderly wrapped his arms around her. "You miss it?"

"I miss what it was." Mizuki made another shaky sigh. "I saw my mom and dad, and my little sister Hana. It felt so real, and so normal! I talked to them. Then... the Phyrexians were there. They k-killed everyone, and then they came for me."

Morrel gave her a squeeze. "You've been through horrible things," he said, nuzzling her shoulder. "A mind can only bear so much strain without consequence."

Mizuki licked her lips. "I can't even imagine how Ayano and her father feel. Saving Kamigawa is their mission, and they're in charge of the coalition. If we fail, imagine how -"

"They'll find a way. And so can you," Morrel urged her gently. "But not right now. Breathe. No one can hurt you here."

Mizuki took a few deep breaths, and she felt her racing heart slow down. "I don't know what to do," she breathed. "I don't think anyone can stop the Phyrexians."

"Hey." Morrel let Mizuki go, turned her around, and cupped her head in his hands. "You're a fighter. We defeated Nihil and stopped Azrael's Sphaera Vitae from damaging the Multiverse. Give yourself a break. A solution will come. I'm certain."

Mizuki made a watery smile. "Tell that to the coalition soldiers. Morale's pretty low."

Morrel lowered his hands. "Yeah. I... know what that's like."

There was something in his tone...

Mizuki nervously clasped her hands at her navel. "Um... should I ask...?"

Morrel looked out the window. "Do you remember me telling you about Rafael, my big brother?"

"Maybe once."

"He's a battlemage like me. He and his squadmates were captured by Grixis raiders two weeks ago." Morrel clenched his fists on the windowsill. "Tortured, interrogated, their life essence sapped away, most likely. Only Rafael got away from them, but it was too late. Their dark magic had broken his mind. He's not himself anymore. He... doesn't even remember me."

Mizuki gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth. "Oh no! I - I'm sorry."

"He's in the medical ward," Morrel explained quietly. "I visit him every day. He calls me 'kid' and wonders why we look similar. I play along, and keep his spirits up. He's in a gardening class with other patients to keep him busy. He... has no chances of returning to active duty."

Morrel turned back to face Mizuki with an embarassed smile. "Sorry, Mizuki. That probably didn't cheer you up very much..."

Mizuki took Morrel's hand in both of hers. "You can tell me anything," she told him. "I'm sorry to hear about your brother. I guess we both know how much it hurts, fighting enemies like these."

Morrel nodded. "We all know the risks."

"But you keep on fighting, don't you?"

"I do." Morrel's eyes were steely. "I can't abandon hope and let Akrasa Kingdom fall. Nor will the other mages or knights."

Mizuki managed a watery smile. "Then I ain't gonna feel sorry for myself, either. I lost my little sister and parents when Haijin-no-Imari attacked. We lost Veldor fighting Nihil. But here we are, still goin' at it. The Planeswalker Code has gotta be upheld."

"I still uphold it, too. Even if I can't leave new Alara. I won't forget everything Veldor told us about the responsibility."

"Me, neither. His voice is pretty hard to forget."

Morrel chuckled. "I know."

Mizuki exhaled slowly. "I..."

"Yes?"
"I gotta be honest: I wasn't sure what I was gonna do here when I showed up. I... just had to see you. I hoped that I'd figure something out."

"There's still time."

"Yeah, but still..."

"Look: why don't we have a sparring match in the morning? It may clear your mind." Morrel smiled. "I know how much you enjoy a good workout. You're not one to back down from a challenge, are you?"

Mizuki beamed. "No, I'm not." She felt a rush of gratitude. "You know just how to cheer me up, don't you?"

Morrel leaned close and tenderly kissed her on the lips. "I always do."

Mizuki made an embarassed chuckle and felt her face warm. "I think you finally got me all figured out."

Not completely. But close enough.

Mizuki watched the peaceful castle grounds for another few minutes before she climbed back into the wide bed with Morrel, and once Morrel rolled onto his side, Mizuki pressed herself to his back. She savored his warmth.

This time, she found sleep much faster.

*o*o*o*o*

It felt good to blow off some steam in a dueling ring on the castle grounds the next morning.

Assembled rhoxes, knights, squires, and aven soldiers watched as Mizuki stepped into the fifteen-foot-wide stone arena barefoot, her Fiora sword absent. Across from her, Morrel stepped into the ring, fully garbed in his trousers and boots, dark green vest, blue button-up shirt, and white cloak. He ran a hand through his blond hair.

"I hope you're not rusty, Mizuki," he said kindly. "Everyone has been kept in tip-top shape to keep the castle safe. And that includes me."

Mizuki lightly hopped back and forth on her feet to warm up. She smiled. "Who d'you think you're talkin' to? I can run in circles around you!"

Some of the squires chuckled. "Outlander girl has some guts," one of them muttered.

Morrel did a few stretches. "Unarmed combat is a deeply-entrenched skill among Bantians, you know. And I've only gotten better since we completed our quest together."

"Let's see some action!" another squire called out, and everyone loudly agreed.

Mizuki raised her fists and crouched slightly. "Come get me!"

On a cushion of blue-green mana, Morrel flashed across the stone arena, his open palm already striking through the air.

Mizuki's eyes widened. Whoa!

She twisted out of the way and backwards, but still, the heel of Morrel's palm grazed her cheek, and she was sent sprawling from the glancing blow. Her jaw stung as she rolled back upright.

"Hey, I'm just warming up," Morrel teased her. "Don't tell me you're already on the defensive?"

Mizuki huffed. "You got lucky."

When did he learn to move like that?!

Again, Morrel charged, quick as lightning, and this time, he feinted with another palm strike and struck Mizuki's chest with a rising knee. Mizuki's breath exploded out her mouth as the mana-enhanced blow sent her stumbling back. She yelped as she nearly stepped out of the arena, then caught herself at the last second.

The squires cheered Morrel on, and the rhoxes watched Mizuki with disappointment in their dark eyes. Mizuki growled and pushed her green-black mana aura to its fullest extent. She couldn't afford to hold back.

Morrel slowly walked in a semi-arc, arms poised. "You'll have to hit back sooner or later," he told her. "I know you can do it!"

"You're tellin' me." Mizuki breathed deep, crouched, then darted forth.

This time, Mizuki was the one feinting. She got close enough to bait out a jab aimed at her face, and she shifted all her weight on her left foot. Quick as a cat, she ducked and allowed Morrel's fist to shoot through empty air. Then, she swept out her leg to take out Morrel's knee from under him.

Already, however, Morrel was moving again, and he simply jumped, tucking his legs under him to evade Mizuki's blow. Then a kick from mid-air hit Mizuki's right shoulder dead-on, and she felt her balance falter.

Morrel landed and swung a hard hook to her temple. Mizuki saw the blow coming as though in slow motion, her heart beating hard, her body aching. I can't... let that connect!

She didn't.

Mizuki seized Morrel's forearm and wrenched his hard punch aside, then yanked him toward her. She saw the look of shock on his face for just a half-second before she smashed her forehead against his. Her skull ached from the contact, but as she had hoped, it stunned Morrel for a few precious seconds.

This time, Mizuki's knee strike connected, and she saw Morrel stumble. Another kick, this one from her right foot, slammed into his stomach and sent him flat onto his back.

The squires made a collective "oooooh!" as their native champion struggled to his feet.

"That was a good one," Morrel huffed. "Unconventional, but that's what makes it effective."

Mizuki grinned. "I'm not bound by a strict set of combat rules."

The knights booed that comment, but Mizuki didn't care.

Once again, Morrel darted toward her on a cushion of blue-green mana, and Mizuki vaulted into the air to evade his kicking attack. She landed on his right flank and threw a high kick at her opponent's shoulder, but too late: Morrel ducked deep, then jabbed at her throat.

Mizuki was already moving, and she retaliated with a few quick jabs that Morrel blocked or pushed aside. "You're getting faster!" Morrel noted. "Good!"

Over and over, they blocked, punched, dodged, or countered, each trying to find a key opening in the other's defenses, to land the knockout blow. Mizuki felt her sleeveless button-up shirt cling wetly to her skin, felt her breaths come in ragged gasps. Her muscles burned as she pushed herself to keep up with Morrel's whirlwind of well-trained martial forms.

Finally, as the crowd watched breathlessly, Mizuki knocked aside one of Morrel's punches and connected a heavy uppercut on his jaw. At the same time, Morrel's other fist rammed into her sternum, and Mizuki felt herself get thrown away and flat onto her back. Morrel similarly collapsed on the arena's other end, sprawling awkwardly.

Mizuki clamored to her hands and knees, body trembling, sweat dripping from her face. "I-I can keep fighting!" she panted, but her exhaustion said otherwise.

Then, from across the arena, Morrel shakily sat up. "I've had enough," he wheezed. "D-draw?"

Mizuki made a watery smile. "Draw."

*o*o*o*o*

After a much-desired cold drink of local fruit juice and toweling herself dry in her guest room, Mizuki headed right down the hall and knocked on Morrel's door.

The door creaked open and Morrel let her inside. "Whew. What a match," he commented with a wide grin. "You really know how to push me."

"It's what I do," Mizuki teased him. "I can go again anytime you like."

Morrel chuckled. "Oh, I'm sure."

Mizuki saw Morrel's white cloak on a peg on the wall. "Not on duty yet?"

"No, not until this afternoon's patrol," Morrel explained. "I -"

A small brass medallion on his belt flickered with a white light.

"What was that?" Mizuki asked.

"Another intruder has been captured," Morrel said slowly. "Just like yesterday, when you arrived here."

Mizuki's eyes widened. "Which way to the holding cells?"

Morrel squared his shoulders. "Follow me."

Five minutes later, Morrel brought Mizuki to holding cell D-4, where two guards held a red-haired man at swordpoint.

"He's not dangerous," Morrel told the two guards.

"Another friend of yours?" a knight demanded.

"I've met skilled agents on my travels at the borders," Morrel explained. "Let me talk to him in private, okay?"

The knights reluctantly lowered their weapons and marched off into the hallway and out of earshot.

Mizuki stared. "Azrael?"

The red-headed man nodded. "Security here is impressive, Mizuki. Did you receive the same welcome?"

"Yeah, I did."

"Azrael..." Morrel breathed, staring. "I didn't think I'd see you again!"

Azrael lifted his chin. "Good day, Morrel. I presume Mizuki spent the night here?"

"Sure I did," Mizuki said defensively.

"I found your planeswalking trail leading here this morning, Mizuki," Azrael explained. "I understand if you wanted to visit Morrel for moral support and guidance."

"Mizuki told me about Kamigawa," Morrel said heavily. "I can hardly believe it. Nihil's masters still trouble us, then?"

Azrael pursed his lips. "Nihil was only the first of our many foes. A new planeswalker agent of the Phyrexians found Kamigawa and must have organized the assault. As to why they invaded that plane, I'm not yet sure..."

Mizuki grunted. "I sense a 'but' in your tone."

"But," Azrael said gravely, "I may have a lead. Mizuki, we must leave at once. Morrel, I thank you for lifting Mizuki's spirits; I can sense it in her aura."

"She's my close friend. One in need," Morrel said fondly. "She would do the same for me."

Azrael nodded. "Of course. Now, Mizuki... prepare to planeswalk with me. And keep your guard up; where we're going, we'll need it." He activated a blue-black planeswalking gate next to him.

Mizuki swallowed. "O-okay." She wrapped Morrel in a tight hug, standing on her tip-toes so she could rest her chin on Morrel's shoulder. "Wish me luck," she breathed into his ear. Her eyes stung. "I get the feeling that things are gonna get worse."

She smiled weakly as Morrel hugged her back. "Angels watch over you," Morrel told her gently.

Mizuki nodded, unwilling to let her boyfriend go. Why couldn't she just stay on this sun-warmed world with Morrel's arms around her, where no Phyrexians could find them?

The Planeswalker Code. She'd be damned if she turned her back on it now.

Mizuki reluctantly let Morrel go. "I'm gonna come back here before you know it," she said, "and tell ya all about my adventures, okay? I'm coming back."

Morrel brought his hands together as though praying. "Be safe."

Mizuki summoned her planeswalking gate, and stepped toward it. She glanced at Morrel over her shoulder. "I love you, Morrel," she blurted out.

"I love you, Mizuki." Morrel kept his hands together in the traveler's blessing, but his face went pink.

Mizuki stepped into her gate

Seconds later, Azrael joined her in the Blind Eternities. "Are you ready?" he asked her. Around them, raw, primal creation swirled around them in dazzling colors. Under them lay the reunited Alara, the five shards crudely jammed together into a single plane. Bant looked much brighter than the other four, but darkness crept into its borders.

Mizuki nodded. "S-sure." She followed Azrael through the Blind Eternities, his blue cape and red hair fluttering behind him. Mizuki had all her gear: her backpack with its emergency supplies and her Fiora sword, and her fully-recharged mana deep in her body.

Fear of what lay ahead filled her as she marched along the Eternities. But she also remembered what Morrel had told her about his brother Rafael, and she swore to keep fighting so good people like them wouldn't suffer anymore. Morrel and his brother risked everything for Bant. Mizuki would do the same for her home, and no number of oily Phyrexians would crush her spirits again!

She balled her hands into fists.

"This is it." Azrael stood at the edge of a new plane, looking down at it.

Mizuki stood beside him. And let out a gasp.