Subject: [FFML]Shizen, Ch. 2
From: "Utsukushi Ansatsusha" <utsu_ansatsusha@tendodojo.com>
Date: 5/4/1999, 2:19 AM
To: ffml@fanfic.com

Fall of The Guardian


	Slamming into the ground with bone crushing intensity, both Darion and Rowan were temporarily stunned.  Slowly consciousness returned, and Darion raised his head to find that he and Rowan were surrounded by five Ahkmet Guardians, one of which he knew only too well.

	"Rowan, get up, I have to burn the net with an electrical charge."  When no response immediately came from his sister, Darion looked down into his Guardian's hand and saw his sister's broken and unconscious body.  "Damn it all!  Rowan, wake up!  I know that you're alive, so bloody wake up!'
	"You never did have a high tolerance level for pain, did you?  I said get up!  If you don't start moving, I am going to dump you on the ground."  Still, nothing came from Rowan which left Darion with little choice about what he could do.  Placing his Guardian's hand at a slight angle, he let Rowan slide to the ground and roll into an unconscious heap.

	Now that Rowan was a safe distance away from the Guardian, Darion easily disintegrated the net around him with the power bestowed upon him at his birth: the power to control lightning and fire.
	Looking up again at the ring of Guardians around him, Darion saw the ice blue Guardian of the one being that was his equal in battle: his brother.
	"We knew that you betrayed us but we never thought that you would go this far!  Do you not even have a heart?"  Furious at the man he had once shared everything with, Darion picked up his still unconscious sister and sat her up-right at the base of one of the trees that surrounded the clearing.

	"I suggest that if you wish to remain amongst the living, Darion, that you let us take Rowan and leave."

	"I would never do that, my job is to protect her from you and whoreson's like yourself.  Never will she be taken willingly by you or the Ahkmet, I'll see to that!"

	"Really," the sardonic voice of his brother sounded from the Guardian facing Darion's.  "I would have thought that you had already done that.  How foolish of you, Darion.'
	"You really won't let me have her then?  Well, that leaves me two options, Darion: we can duel with our Leariam's, or I can have my men kill you and I take the girl anyway.  What say yo-"

	"My Lord, there are two Phaedrian Guardians approaching!"  One of the Guardians that had been keeping post behind Darion yelled to the ice blue Guardian.  "Shall I take a couple of the Guardians and dispose of them?"

	"No, let them come and learn that fate cannot be altered.'
	"What say you, Darion, a final duel or shall I just take the heiress?  It's your choice."

	There was never a decision to be made in Darion's mind: he had been created to protect his sister.  "It is my privilege and duty to protect Rowan."
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	Awakened by the melody of clashing swords and an almost unbearable pain in her thigh, Rowan opened the left side of her cloak only to be greeted by the sight of her leg completely crushed.  She hissed in a breath of air between her teeth and tried to ignore the complete yet temporary destruction of her leg.  Un-amused by the lack of control that she had over the pain, Rowan distracted herself with the noise of conflicting swords in the background that had just registered in her mind.

	Two warriors in gleaming ceremonial armor stood in a small clearing near by, their Guardians kneeling in the background, recreating the images of a dream that Rowan had frequently for the past few months.....
~~~


			Two phoenix's, silver and ice blue fought each other in the night sky before five moons.  Close by another battle between three scorpions and two griffins was being waged, and a lone owl floating under the moons watching the two phoenix's.  Behind them all, a silver dragon, crippled and bleeding, was trying to raise itself from the ground but seemed restrained by invisible bonds.
			One by one the scorpions fell before the griffins.  Remarkably, the dragon healed itself and disappeared into the camouflage of the night.  The griffins watched the continuing battle between the phoenix's.  Suddenly, the silver phoenix injure the other and silence filled the sky.  A flash of light emanated from the owl and the silver phoenix's light was extinguished.  From the blackness wave of fire erupted from the position of where the dragon had once been.  There was naught but extreme sorrow, hatred, confusion, fear, blackness.
~~~


	"No," frantically Rowan whispered to herself and shook the memory of her dream.  She tried to rise but couldn't, then looked down in shock at her still crippled leg.  "Why have I not completed regeneration yet?  Am I so weak that I cannot even heal a crippled leg, or is it that I have merely exhausted my powers already?"

	No sooner had Rowan finished her question when she felt the near imperceptible touch of a gentle hand on her mind.  A crackling, almost crunching sound reverberated throughout her body that restored her energy and healed her broken body.
	Astonishment washed over her face as Rowan looked up to the sky through the lofty tree branches of the ancient forest.  "Great Shizen, mothers and fathers, I thank you for this gift.  Be it from you or another being, I thank you still."

	Rowan tried to gain her feet again but was thrown against the tree before she was completely up.  A mage's bind had been thrown across the clearing and hit Rowan's throat, pinning her to the rough surface behind her.  In the blink of an eye, the glowing, golden band had wrapped itself around the tree and Rowan several times, inhibiting almost all possible movement.
	"If you intervene in this, I will make sure that they have nothing left to fight about," a menacing whisper raced through her mind and all Rowan thought was that commoners were malicious; then wondered why her siblings wanted her to save them from something one day.
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	Trystan and M landed outside the half Ring of Guardians and peaked over their shoulder to see what everyone was watching.

	"Why are those two engaging in a duel when they have Guardians?  Very nice ones I should add.'
	"Damn!  I hate having a shorter Guardian then everyone else!  I can't see anything!"

	"Stop complaining and look.  Those two warriors are from the same clan, one that I have never heard of either.  Do you see any markings on the armor, M?"

	"Trystan, I can't see anything."

	As though he hadn't even asked a question, Trystan continued talking.  "This is probably a battle of honor that we have stumbled into, especially seeing as how reluctant William was for me to converse with the girl.  But, there is the fact that the she was attacked on our land, and if I recall correctly, that gives us just cause to interfere.  What do you think, M?"
	With out a warning, Trystan thrust his Guardian's giant sword through the mechanical warrior obliviously standing in front of him.
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	Everything continued as it was, the two duelists dancing, never faltering, when a taunting message floated across the mind of everyone in the clearing.  "You cannot hold me captive with this childish toy."

	No sooner had the message started when every one stopped and looked towards a tree  bound in golden metal near the edge of the clearing.  Immediately Darion took the advantage, running through his opponent's shoulder with the glowing, near translucent Leariam blade.
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	"It's immpos-"

	"If you fold, I will let you live!"  Darion hissed through his teeth and twisted the Leariam to make his point more clear.

	"You know that I will continue to do whatever I must to bring her to me.  Even if you kill me I will be reborn, just as you will.  It is our fate to live forever, even after we die."

	"Sevearian, you are beat!  All of your men here are dead, just look around you!  We now have Pheadra behind us, there is nothing that you can do.'
	"I banished you once, do not make me take the life of one of our own kind!"

	"I will back down this time, but I will accomplish what I have set out to do."  Sevearian grabbed the blade of Darion's Leariam and slowly pulled it from his shoulder.  Not for an instant did his composure falter or hint at pain and weakness.  Sevearian's actions told Darion there was nothing that he could ever do to stop his brother.  He could only interfere and hope to delay his brother's success.
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	"I wonder where you are hiding shifter," Rowan murmured to herself with a menacing twist on her face.  Before leaving she looked toward's the clearing where her brother now had his Leariam through his opponents shoulder.  "I know that man from somewhere.  Oh well, I will ask Darion who he is when I am done here.'
	"Now, to find where my shifting mage has disappeared to."

	A rush of wind flew through the trees and Rowan let herself dissolve into it, beginning her search for the mage that had tried to restrain her a few moments ago.
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	A low rumble of laughter emerged from the shadows of a near by tree once Rowan had left.  "You have much to learn child, much to learn indeed.  But that is why I'm here, is it not, Great One's?  To help Rowan learn for herself what she needs to survive and conquer?  To guide her I should say.  Yes, to guide her along the path that she has chosen.
	"Well then, our first lesson begins, now."  From the shadows, a slim white hand pointed in the direction of the clearing, and a shot of silver light maneuvered through the trees to strike Darion in the back.  Continuing to push itself painfully through 'til half of it's silver light had emerged from his chest, materializing as an ancient seers staff's of a Shizen priestess.
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	A flash of light scattered Rowan's thoughts as she traveled in the air, searching for the shifter that attacked her.  Shortly followed by the blinding light was the imprint of intense pain flooding her chest.  "Darion!"  She screamed his name with intense pain and rage, knowing that her brother had been murdered.
	Quickly, fear consumed her and she shot back to the clearing with more speed than she had ever used before.  There she found her brother, slumped forward on the seer's staff.  The spear headed end being pushed into the ground by Darion's weight, and his body slowly sliding down the glistening silver.

	A noise between a scream of anguish and a roar erupted from Rowan's throat, leaving the clearing in a deeper silence than it had been before.  She rushed to her brother and stood behind him to pull the staff free of the ground.  Laying her brother on his side Rowan untangled one of his hands from the blood smeared staff.

	"Darion?"  She shook his shoulder, whimpering his name and tried to believe that he was still alive.  "Darion?!  Oh gods no!  NO!!  NO, Darion, no.  Please, no," moans and sobs escaped her throat as pleas for her brothers life.  Rowan paid no heed the others that remained in the clearing, just simply held her brothers head in her lap.  "NO!  Why this?  Why us?  We haven't done anything to anyone, nothing.  We've never even left the valley!  Why did they have to kill you?'
	Rowan realized that she had begun to lose control and quieted herself be removing the cold helmet from her brothers head, then buried her face in his softly waving, brown hair.  "I need  your help, Darion.  I need your strength.  You've just started to teach me how to fight, Darion, you have to finish what you started.  Remember?'
	"Oh please, gods, let him come back!"

	Silently, gently, a hand was laid upon Rowan's shoulder, startling her out of her grief and reminding her that she was not alone.  Reminding her that there were still those that would hurt her if she let them.  Before that hand could do anything more than touch her shoulder, Rowan jumped to the other side of her brother, turning to face her enemy and tear the Leariam sword from Darion's stiff fingers in the same move.  The glowing blade was at the neck of the person who had touched her -- an abnormally tall, female, Darkelf in a black bodysuit with blood red trimming.  She was armed with the most advanced weaponry that Phaedrea had, yet still a look of pathetic recognition, sympathy and concern was written on her face.

	"I am not your enemy here, the Ahkmet are."  A gentle whisper flowed from the elf's mouth, mimicking the calmness of slow moving water.

	"How am I supposed to know that you are telling the truth?"  Keeping her red rimmed eyes on the stranger, Rowan listened to the other two soldiers in the clearing.  Listened to their breath and the minuscule movements that they made.  Behind the woman standing above of her, Trystan drew his own sword and pointed it at Sevearian.

	"Do you think that I would let you deny me the right to kill him, or do you simply seek to keep an injured man at bay?"  Her voice turning glacial as she addressed her question to Trystan.  Rowan turned slightly to see the other warrior standing with his sword pointing at Trystan.
	"One of our Leariams would cut through any other sword on this entire planet."  Slowly lowering her sword from M's throat, Rowan turned and stared at the warrior with his blade still raised at chest level towards Trystan.
	Raising her sword arm into the air and spoke in a clear, ruthless voice, "I claim this Leariam.  We are each other's masters now, never shall we be parted."  As Rowan spoke, she watched the warrior in front of her and saw him waver slightly.  "If it is a fight that you want, then face me, challenge me.  Other wise be gone before I change my mind and decide to kill you out right."

	No one in the clearing moved, not even Sevearian.  Trystan and M stood staring at Rowan, her cloak had fell open, revealing the five silver and jeweled bands on her body that were quickly melting into her skin to form the female's ceremonial armor of the silver dragon and the male's ceremonial armor of the silver phoenix.  Rowan was channeling her Yi so well that every soul on the planet had to feel it's presence.
	It was then that Trystan knew the stories that William had told him from childhood were true.  That the prophecies of a goddess -- one women, a warrior, murderer and a nurturer -- were true.

	Still Sevearian did not move.  "Look at me!  If you want a challenge, face me!"  Sevearian heard her, felt the power flow through her and knew instantly that he must have her for his own,  not as a slave, but as his equal, his companion.  He remained unmoving, his sword pointing towards Trystan.

	"I will fight you for her," a silent message was sent to the man standing behind the Darkelf.  "She's magnificent isn't she?  Beautiful, strong, determined, etherial, all powerful.  I'll bet you anything that she is passionate as well."

	"I'm not interested," Trystan answered out loud and took a step forward, advancing towards the warrior his challenger.

	Rowan couldn't stand being ignored, her control was slipping and she knew it. She  wanted to strike out at somebody, anybody, so why not the one who was responsible for her brothers death?  She didn't give warning of her attack, just slashed at the other warrior's sword arm.

	Anger and pain swelled in her heart, giving her the ruthlessness that she needed to keep her control.  Blow after blow she pushed him back, but he never raised his sword against her.  "Why won't you fight me?!"

	Sevearian never spoke; instead he let his emotions flow to her, giving her the answers that she needed at the moment.  Sorrow, pain, adoration, lust, frustration, loyalty, duty, and regret. She felt all of those things pour from him, killing the urge to fight him.  Calmness began to flow through her veins, giving others the illusion of peace and acceptance.  "It wasn't your order to kill my brother, but it was someone you know that murdered him, isn't it?"  No words came, only the stillness of affirmation and an on-going silence.  "I'm asking you to leave now, but know that our fight is not finished.  We are both determined to win, I felt that from you, but only I will survive.  I promise you that."

	Sevearian gave a slight nod, acknowledging that he heard what she said then he and his Guardian disappeared in to the blowing wind.

	Slowly, gracefully, Rowan walked over to where her brother laid cold and lifeless on the ground and knelt, un-clasping the silver necklace around his neck and placing it around her own.  "You wanted so badly to save me when you should have saved yourself, Darion," leaning closer to his ear she whispered to him gently.  "Now your soul is trapped in this lifeless shell that needs be burned to free you, but don't worry, I shall bring you home to the valley.'
	"I'm sorry if this hurts you, but I have to remove the staff from your body so you can fit in the Guardian.  Please, Darion, let me feel your essence, let me know what you know for just a short time.  I do not want to let such a beautiful suit go to waste here in the woods."
	Gently she placed her fingers on his temples and let the power of life around her flow back and forth between herself and her brother.  Rowan saw all of his vivid memories, most of which were of herself: how she died each time and that he was unable to save her.  So much pain it caused him, to see his sister die.  It had made Darion empty and cold with everyone but Rowan.  Then she saw this last battle and felt the fear that he would not be able to protect her.
	There were other glimpses into the past, a flashes of laughter, glimpses of wars passed, of his human wife succumbing to old age before his eyes and that he loved her even when she was old and grey.  Then Rowan saw him -- the warrior in the ice blue armor.  He, Darion and Christy were arguing and Rowan could see feet peaking out from a heavy velvet curtain.  But the memory faded and the rest of what she saw was tactical information.  How to run the valley, the Guardians, weapons that were stationed all along the peaks of the mountains surrounding the valley.  No feeling was left only information from maps, books, and experience.

	Rowan released his soul and stood above him, placing her hands around the slim pole of the silver staff.  "Please, will one of you hold him?"  Coldness filled her voice still as she spoke to the Darkelf.

	Slowly, as if returning from a dream, both Trystan and M turned from staring at the place where Sevearian had disappeared to look with owlish eyes at Rowan.

	"I beg your pardon, what did you say?"  A perplexed look came over Darkelf's face as she  tried to remember what the silver haired mage in front of her had said.

	"Will you please hold my brother still while I remove the staff?  I require assistance in this matter."

	Looking at the expressionless mask on Rowan's face, M merely nodded, then took hold of Darion's shoulders as Rowan quickly pulled the seer's staff out of his back.  "I thank you for your assistance.'
	"I am Princess Rowan of the Dreica.  If there is anything that I can do for you in the future, do not hesitate to ask."  Rowan stopped to look at the strewn and burning parts of demolished Guardians and silently cursed them to wander the planet as lost souls for all of eternity.  "You are invited to come to the Dreica as my guests and attend the funeral of my brother, King Darion of Dreica.'

	"It's alright, we understand that you need to be alone right now."

	"No, please come.  My elder sister would enjoy meeting someone new.  Besides, wouldn't you like to be the first people to enter the Forbidden Valley in over three thousand years?  Please, at least escort me back to the palace with my brother's body."  Remaining silent, both M and Trystan nodded, "Good.  I shall bring Darion back in his Guardian and both of you must follow closely behind me."

	Without another word, Rowan  hefted her brothers body over her shoulder and floated up to the entrance of the silver Guardian with the seer's staff and the Leariam.

	"Our planet is going to be ravaged by a storm soon.  You know this, don't you Trystan?"

	Trystan watched Rowan enter the Guardian as he walked over to where M was still standing.  "Yes, I do.'
	"Never before have I believed William's tales, but after this I believe him.  Soon Ahkmet and Phaedra will enter the war of all wars, dragging in other countries as we continue to fight.  Many of our people will die, the same as their's will.  But this time, this time we aren't fighting over insults.  No, we're going to fight for fate itself.'
	"The fate of an entire world is in that woman's hands, M, and she doesn't even know it.  I doubt that she even knows of the prophecy.  "She who wears the bands of the gods...'"
	"Come, our princess appears ready to leave now.  Besides shouldn't we at least investigate what is inside Dreica, the Forbidden Valley?  It has been a barrier between us and the Ahkmet for as long as the countries have been in existence.  I don't believe that we shall pass up this opportunity."

	"Trystan, I strongly advise that we do nothing to anger her.  She is filled with grief and hatred now, the only thing she wants is revenge for her brother's death.'
	"I think that she let me into her mind, Trystan."

	"Why do you say that?"

	"Because somehow, the knowledge that there are only two females left to her race, is now mine."

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