Zelgadiss calmly stared into the flames that now enveloped Val. The tears ran down his cheeks, the only exterior evidence that he felt anything. The pain was so heart rending that he couldn't bring himself out of the shocked stupor. Another loved one was gone, and here he was, freeing Val's soul in flames on the same plateau that he'd freed Xelloss. He'd stared out onto the plateau, watching the wind play among the grass, almost certain he could still see the sparkling of red dancing in the wind.
Fillia held on to his arms, sobbing without regard to appearance. Her son was gone. She didn't care that he'd become a mazuku, again. He had still been her son, adopted or not, and along with his death came the guilt of any parent that outlives their child. Could I have done anything to avoid this? Could I have been a better mother? Maybe just not forcing him to eat his greens could have changed things? What could have I done? Fillia burst into another bout of tears.
Zelgadiss calmly looked down at Fillia, feeling sorry for the dragon maiden. It was my fault. I should never have excepted Val. I should have left him with his mother. He wrapped his arms around the distressed dragon, running his fingers through her hair, trying to console her, as well as console himself.
However, a ground-rocking explosion interrupted their mourning as they jerked their heads around to see what had caused it. They watched as the sky darkened, casting a pale, death-like still across the country.
"He's started." Zel stated flatly, picking up the dark, black blade that he had, once again, pried from the body of a loved one.
"Who's started?" Fillia cried, tears still running down her face, as she clasped onto Zel's arm, unwilling to let another loved one go.
"Shabrinigdo."
Fillia gasped and clutched Zel even harder. "Where are you going? He's too powerful."
"I know," Zel sighed, looking sadly at Fillia, "but I have to try. I can't stand by and watch him destroy any more lives. I couldn't live with that."
Zel jerked away and then ran off in a burst of demonic speed in the direction of the red, glowing horizon.
"ZEL! NO, PLEASE COME BACK! DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Fillia transformed, taking to the air, intent on finding him. I have to find him; I can't lose anymore loved ones.
She flew for hours her eyes keeping with the horizon, her destination. Then she saw him, Shabrinigdo, in beast form, looming over the landscape, larger than she could ever imagine him to be. He stood, dwarfing the mountains.
On the ground in front of him, lay Zel, bruised, but alive. She glided down, transforming as she did. She landed and ran to Zel.
"Zel, please let's get out of here. You can't win."
"Fillia, leave!"
Fillia took a hurt step back. "But, Zel, I can't lose anyone else. Please."
"Who will fight him?" Zel asked flatly. "Ceifeed is still not recovered from the last battle with Shabrinigdo and Lina's gone. L-sama probably won't step in, since she desires the world to go back to chaos. I'm all there is. Even if I fail, I've got to try."
"Then..., I can help!"
"Fillia, no...."
A burst of Dragon's Breathe shot out at the Dark Lord, who easily deflected it and swung a fist out knocking the Dragon Maiden into the mountainside
Zel quickly darted in, sword drawn, trying to use the distraction to his advantage. However, the Dark Lord was deceptively fast and swung back around, knocking Zel down and sending the blade careening through the air and imbedding it's hilt into a crack in the mountain.
"Zel, stop this," the Dark Lord commanded. "I do not want to hurt you and you cannot hurt me. So, please stop, now."
Zel stared up at the Dark Lord, then stared at Fillia who was shakily pulling herself to her feet. He sighed, relieved to see her well, and with the determination to keep her that way, he launched himself at the Dark Lord, spell in hand. He knew that his mazukun black magic wouldn't work against the Dark Lord, but he was desperate. He threw the spell which, as expected, was deflected and he watched as the fist came crashing towards him.
Fillia watched in terror, unable to do anything as Zel was flung through the air like a rag doll.
Now, she could only watch as the world slowed for just a few seconds, as Zel flew backwards to the mountain, the draft blowing his soft brown hair into his face. He moved, looking behind him, his eyes resting on something. Then slowly he turned his head back, bowed his head, a faint smile gracing his lips, and closed his eyes in exceptance of his fate.
Fillia heard a scream and recognized it as her own, echoed by a demonic howl, as she watched Zel hit the mountain wall, impaled through the chest by that same black blade imbedded there. She watched as Zel eyes flicked open, blood running out of the corners of his mouth, gasping once as if in surprise, then slump, as his breathe ended.
Fillia felt tears run down her cheeks, as she screamed and ran to Zel's inert body. She could hear that ungodly howl rise to high-pitched scream, as she grabbed Zel pulling his body into her arms. She turned to see Shabrinigdo screaming as if in pain. She held her breath, as she watched the Dark Lord writhe.
So, you now know the pain of losing a loved one.
She cradled Zel close, not caring what happened. Only in the back of her mind, did she recognize the fact, that with Zel gone, Shabrinigdo's link was broken and incomplete. That his only choice was madness or self-destruction. He must have chosen the latter, as Fillia turned her head at the sound of an explosion and watched the Dark Lord's body explode, sending thousands of burning pieces in many directions.
Ezro stood quietly at the edge of the flames that now consumed his grandson. Again, more ash would dance across the plateau, mixing with the ash of two other loved ones. Ezro sighed.
I guess he won't be alone then.
He glanced down at the Dragon Maiden. Her eyes were swollen with tears. He reached out a comforting hand. But she just jerked away.
"I'm alone. I'm alone. I'm alone. I don't wan to be alone. Why? Why? Why must I be alone" Fillia's mind shrieked. "How could she take it? Her people. Her son. Her love. How could she go on?" She sobbed, holding her head in her hands, pulling them out only to look at the flames.
"Please! I don't want to be alone. I don't want..."
Ezro stared down at the Dragon Maiden, he heard her sobs stop and her breathing calm. His mage sight told him she was now calmly staring into the flames.
"Fillia?"
"Can't you see them?"
"What?"
"Can't you see their eyes? Such beautifully colored eyes."
Ezro looked into the flame, seeing nothing but some stray colored flames, probably from the chemicals in the wood or in Zel's clothes.
Fillia looked calmly into the flames. She watched as two small, violet flames appeared, turning towards her, seeming to smile, a flamed finger waving. The gold flame eyes soon appeared, it's flaming figure moving towards her from the edge of the fire. She let out a ragged sob, as she watched the blue eyes stare at her from the flames, it's hand reaching out, beckoning her.
"Fillia?"
Fillia stared into the flames transfixed. "Can't you hear him?"
"No, Fillia. It's just the wind blowing through the flames. That's all I hear." Ezro caught her arm, scared of what she might do, and scared that the more he looked into the flames the more he could see the eyes that seem to stare at him. He jerked his eyes away, pulling on the Dragon Maiden, who didn't even budge.
"Can't you hear him?"
Ezro, tears running down his cheek, still tugging at her, "No, I...."
"Fillia"
"Didn't you hear that?!"
Ezro felt his heart stop and a chill run up his spine. "No, it's just the wind! Please, let's go!"
"Fillia, come with me. Please, come with me. You won't be alone. Come."
"Yes, Zel, I'm coming, I'm coming." She walked toward the beckoning figure, ignoring Ezro's attempts to stop her. She paid no attention to the flames that caught her dress and started it aflame. She just stared at her beloved, beckoning to her. She felt his arms wrap her into a fiery embrace. She closed her eyes, delight radiating from her features.
Ezro stared in horror, as the flame went up her dress and caught her hair. She didn't scream or cry. She just stood there, a peaceful smile etched across her features. Ezro stared as she lost consciousness, and instead of collapsing, seemed to be held suspended in midair. "Like a lover's embrace" he thought to himself. He then watched those eyes turn to him.
"NO, I can't go with you yet. I have to stay. I'm sorry." He gasped, as the eyes bowed down and then the flames enveloped Fillia, and burned till all that was left was the ashes to dance in the wind.
Ezro quietly stared out at the plateau from the room of his home. He had built his home here, not wanting to be far from his grandson of so long ago. The area where the fire had been had grown over and beautiful flowers had taken it's place. For the longest time, the spot would hold no life, but one-day it had suddenly sprouted with new growth, the same time that the eyes had disappeared from any flame he lit. He smiled remembering that year. He chuckled to himself, thinking how it had been a "productive" year. He thought for a moment, trying to remember exactly when the eyes had disappeared and new growth had appeared. "Oh yeah, that was eight years ago."
He turned his head as he heard a clatter.
"Grandpa" yelled his eight-year-old grandson. He watched as the brown haired boy bounded in. Once those young, blue eyes had locked onto his grandfather's location. He leaped into his arms.
"Grandpa, you said you would teach me some new spells."
"Well Zelgadiss, you could wait till I've rested a little, can't you?"
"No, I got to be strong."
"Why?"
"Because, I want to be strong like you. I want you to be proud of me."
"You don't have to be strong for me to be proud of you. I'll always be proud of you. Besides, my strength came with a high cost, I hope you never have to pay." He smirked, "I want you to have it better this time."
Zel wrinkled his nose, "Don't you mean, you want me to have it better than you."
Ezro smiled, delighted. "Of course, you're right."
"Zel, hey Zel, where are you?" They turned to see a set of gold eyes with long green hair staring through the door. "Oh Zel, there you are. Why don't we go to the lake and find some bug, frogs, or something.
Zel looked up at his grandfather questionably. Ezro smiled, "Go on, have some fun."
Zel quickly scampered off his grandfather's lap and ran outside. Ezro quietly walked to the door watching the two boys running towards the wood, when another child, born the same year as Zel and Valsh, darted out of the bushes and grabbed Zel.
"Zel-kun, don't I get to go," pouted the child, his violet eyes watering and looking on the point of tears.
"No, he can't come," insisted Valsh. "He's got cooties."
"Of course, you can come," Zel announced. Xelian hugged Zel in delight, ignoring the dark glares from Valsh.
"Eeek, get your hands off him," a rock came careening through the air, leaving a large bump growing through Xelian's violet locks.
"Fishy-brains, that wasn't very nice," pouted the child.
The blonde girl rushed forward yanking Zel out of Xelian's grasp. "It's Fina, you namagomi. You are to keep your cootie covered hands off my boyfriend."
Zel rolled his eyes, "Xel can come, and I didn't say you were my girlfriend."
Fillia's eyes started to water up, "Don't you like me? Don't you want me as your girlfriend?"
Zel, flustered, "Well, yes I like you, and I wouldn't mind you as a girlfriend but,...."
"Really?!" Fillia squealed, "I'm the most happy girl..."
"But, Zel!"
"But, Zel!"
Ezro chuckled as he heard the "discussion" continue into the woods. He went back to napping, knowing later he would be required to heal a few bruises and scrapes, which, he hoped, would be the worst this life would give them, this time.