AIC created it, Pioneer distributes it, and now I'm mauling it without their permission-- it being El Hazard of course. Do you seriously think I, by my lonesome self could have created such a fabulous world as El Hazard? Of course not. That would be ludicrous. I am merely a parasite, feeding off the work of others.
Oracle- The Untold Story, how's that for a title? I'm going to call part one "The Fifth Earthling".
Feel free to C&C, MST or even Heavy D this (you try finding a better rhyme if you think you're so hot! ^_^).
Just in case you weren't sure, yes, I am hinting here....
What has gone before: Hayashi was the president of the Science Fiction club at Shinanome High. Cleaning up after an after-school meeting of the club, he got transported to El Hazard. Hayashi appeared two years before the rest of the earthlings in a forest. After some time, he made his way to the palace, visions of the future sporadically occurring during the trip. At the palace in Florestica, he met the two princesses, where Lune Venus has appointed him the Royal Jester, but she knows that there is more to Hayashi than meets the eye.
I think I will call part two:
The Coming of Gallus
For one month after I entered the palace, I was the Jester. My duties basically consisted of keeping Fatora happy; an unhappy Fatora was bad for servants. In other words, I had the same goal as Alielle, but vastly different means.
Most in the palace liked me. I had sympathy from the servants since I had to deal with Fatora. Needless to say the person who kept Fatora from her worst moods was well-liked. Alielle was a friend too, but how could she not be? Everyone likes Alielle. Her eternal cheerfulness and good nature rub off on people. Even Londs (who is often called "Stoneface" behind his back, _very_ behind his back) has occasionally broken into a smile when Alielle was around, and he doesn't smile at anything.
Alielle was sort of like the adorable little sister you never had: she had a peculiar sort of innocence which seemed totally at odds with what she did with Fatora. She brightened all of our lives.
I'm not going to say I was universally loved, that would not be true. For instance, Fatora didn't like me; I didn't like her though, so it works out I suppose. That's why I spent so much time around her-- at her insistance, of course. She liked seeing me make a fool out of myself for her own amusement. Nothing got a laugh out of her like watching me slip and fall, or try to juggle and have eah of the balls hit the top of my head. I saw a lot of her that month. I was technically the court jester, but the reality was Fatora's Fool.
If I was Fatora's Fool, then I must have been Lune Venus' Friend. My first impression of Lune was right, she needed someone to talk to. Most of the people she came into contact with saw her as a princess: her position above them was always in their heads, even if they tried not to show it. Fatora was an exception to that of course, but Fatora was Fatora. Oh, don't get me wrong, Lune Venus loved her sister, but they had little in common. Lune Venus was quiet, mild (but strong, don't let her mildness fool you), and filled with duty.
Fatora-- was not.
Fatora was loud, abrasive, brassy-- the opposite of her sister. Passionate though, and not afraid to show it; Fatora lived every little second of her life, I give her that. She was more alive in every single second than some people ever are.
I was talking about Lune Venus though, wasn't I? I became a confidante for her. Someone who she could talk to without feeling the gap between ruler and subject. I treated her like a normal person, and she opened up to me. We talked about many things, the state of affairs of the country, the people around us, growing up... whatever struck our fancy. We never talked about my past though, or about the words I spoke to her a month ago.
In Gulistan and Bostan we talked; in the perfumed gardens of the palace we whiled away many hours. I could have fallen for her so easily there, among the willows and orchids at sunset. Easy to give my heart to the woman underneath the role: a strange and enticing paradox of fragility and endurace, need and strength.
I didn't fall for her though-- at least not fully. We were friends, good friends, maybe even best of friends, but nothing more than that. It was enough for us.
We talked about the history of El Hazard, spurred on by questions I had from reading in the library (where I spent a lot of my free-time, learning about the world). I found the Book of the Apocalypse most intriguing; I had access to it probably because Lune thought I had already read it.
There was one evening in Gulistan, the lanterns shining all around us dispelling the night, when I asked her about someone in the Book.
"Lune," I began, for I always called her that in private, "who is Ifurita?"
Lune was... ...surprised, to say the least.
"Ifurita...," she trailed off, taking a moment to compose her thoughts, "Ifurita was the most powerful, and the most evil of the demon gods from the days of the Ancients."
The Ancients. The reverence in her voice when she mentions them is almost like ancestor worship. The priestesses of Mount Muldoon, I had heard a bit about them by this time, and I knew their connection to the elements. Reminds me of Shintoism in a way, only more vague; no actual names for the spirits, as far as I can tell. I'm not even really sure I should say spirits actually: I don't think these people pray to anything in particular. A combination of me (Buddhist), and of most of Japan (Shinto).
Lune continued. "Ifurita's powers are said to be unparalleled. She destroyed cities with a thought, companies of soldiers with a look. She laid waste to nations until she was finally sealed away, but not permanently. They could not do that, not even the Ancients were powerful enough to do that. Not forever. She sleeps now, where, only the priestesses know."
She broke into a smile, clearing away the gloom in her voice. "Parents use her to frighten their kids into being good. 'Eat you vegetables, or Ifurita will get you!'"
I smiled at that; rather I smiled more, because her smile was always infectious.
"Why do you ask?" she said.
"Oh, I just read a passage from the Book," we both knew which one I was talking about, "and I came across her name. I just thought it was important."
"I thought you had read the Book before. You quoted from it."
"That? When I first came here you mean?"
She nodded.
I glanced around, and leaned in closer to her, talking in a conspitorial whisper. "I had never even heard of the Book until I came to the palace that day. The words-- I dreamt them."
"Dreamt them?"
"Sometimes, when I close my eyes," I closed them slowly, and opened them again, "I see things. Visions of the future. Sometimes they aren't clear, and other times they are. I saw those words."
"Have you had any other 'visions' since you've been here?"
"Not at the palace, no. That was the last one. Maybe it burnt itself out, or maybe it was something in my diet, or something, I don't know. I just know that I haven't had any since that day I first came to the palace."
Lune thought about it for a bit, I could almost see her thought processes at work. On one hand, my story of visions must have looked delusional, but on the other hand we had come to know each other rather well during the last month, and it was plain to see that I was not insane. Coupled with my curious lack of knowledge of many aspects of the country, and that there were people who had powers which others did not (the three priestesses of Mount Muldoon were reputed to possess power beyond that of common folk), and the story became all the more believable.
"Perhaps," she began, "perhaps there was no reason for you to look into the future during the last month. I think that maybe I should put your talent to good use. You will now be one of my advisors."
"Lune... princess, what if I don't--? What if--? I mean, it is entirely possible that I won't have any more of these dreams, what then?"
"Hayashi," again, a warm, comforting smile to allay my protests. "Your advice to me has always been sound. I was thinking of making you my advisor anyway. Besides, your talents are being wasted entertaining my sister.
"You don't like her very much, do you?"
"Well, it's not that, it's just that I...."
She laughed lightly, musical notes breaking the silence. "My sister can be a handful at times, I admit. I love her still though."
"She is rather... unrestrained, isn't she?" I grinned, agreeing with Lune.
Ifurita. She would be important, I could almost taste it I was so sure. I wondered whether I should tell Lune, but I decided not to ruin her mood right now. I would tell her another time.
***
I became part of her privy council, which consisted of Stoneface and the Old Man (Londs and Doctor Schtalubaugh), and now me. Rest assured, there were some questions about that among the court, after all, I was a nobody who appeared out of nowhere one month ago, and became a jester. At first, it was great, because the rest of the court left me alone.
Then, they started to think: "Why?"
Why would the princess do something like that? There must be a reason. Maybe, just possibly, I was a plant. No history, no past. Nothing known about me, and yet, after a couple of words, I am put in the palace, performing. Just another face, nothing special. Performed in front of many of them, as they talked, and gossiped, and did other things while I, I heard and saw it all. A spy for the princess? I was in the perfect position to do so. That could also explain why I was summoned by Fatora so often: a cover I could use to give reports, and our known dislike of each other another part of the cover.
Treacherous, that's a good word to define the court. Very precarious, and the alliances against the Bugrom even moreso. My position high in the confidences of the princess gave me a lot of attention from the sycophants who infested the court, trying to curry favour. Because I would not accept, would not "play the game," and perhaps also because they were still unsure as to why I was an advisor, they would not accept me. I was the ugly duckling, as it were.
Two exceptions were Londs and Schtalubaugh; to them, the rejection made me look loyal to the princess, and they knew I had been a friend to her during the past month. What Stoneface and the Old Man were worried about was my ability to be an effective advisor, and so they took me under their respective wings, giving me a crash course in El Hazard history, culture, politics, and everything else.
Every waking moment away from court, or official meetings with the princess, was filled with learning. Facts and figures danced on the edges of my vision, and my mind was filled with people and place I had never met, or had ever been to. Their tutelage was much more intense than the learning I was doing on my own; they gave the juku I used to go to a good run for their money.
***
Another month passed by while I became acclimatised to my new position. Another month without my dreams of the future. I virtually lived in the library, going back to my quarters only for a change of clothes (and even that all too infrequently). At the end of that month, I was tired, exhausted, bleary-eyed, but I knew El Hazard.
I staggered away from the library with eyes that felt like they were encased in latex, finally finished with the studies when I stumbled into Alielle.
"Hello Alielle," I managed to yawn out. "What are you doing here?"
"Wow Hayashi, you look tired. Princess Lune Venus asked me if I could get you."
"Hunh? Whuh-- why?"
"Nobody told you? We're getting a delegation from a faraway land! This is _so_ exciting!
"Anyway, princess Lune Venus wants you to be there. You have," she paused, giving my rumpled clothes and disheveled hair a critical look, "just enough time to get ready before we recieve them in the main audience chamber."
"Okay, okay. I don't suppose you could help me with some coffee, could you? It would mean a lot to me Alielle, I feel like death warmed over, and then only barely." I was swaying on my feet like a drunk; either that or we were undergoing a very neat and quiet earthquake.
"For you Hayashi, in your condition, okay. There'll be a pot of Bleached Bones special in you room when you get back from the bath."
I grabbed her hands in mine and pumped them up and down furiously. "Thank you Alielle, thank you! You're a lifesaver and a true friend. If ever you need a favour, you just ask me, okay? Anything. Just ask." Bleached Bones coffee was the strongest coffee around. One pot of it, and you usually don't blink for a week. I would need something that strong to make it through the audience.
The baths helped out a great deal; normally I (along with everyone else) use the heated ones, but this time I thought a little bit of cold might help me stay awake. I was right, although that was an experience I did not want to repeat. On the upside, in addition to waking me up, the cold water gave me great incentive to hurry up; I think I shaved my bathing time down by one third.
Upon returning to my room, I found the wonderful, conscious-giving aroma of Bleached Bones coffee pervading the room, and the pot on a night-stand with a mug and a large cup of sugar. I also found a set of clothes laid out on my bed. Alielle must have told the servant who brought the coffee what I should wear. How thoughtful; I definately had to do something nice for her.
I didn't realise I had said those last words out loud until I heard a voice from the balcony say, "Don't worry, I'll think of something." Alielle walked in from the balcony, and gestured towards the clothes and the coffee.
You don't have that much time Hayashi. Better drink and get dressed quick."
"Why... how come you're still here?" I asked, my brain still tired and stunned, no matter how awake I felt from the cold bath.
"Because this is imporant, you have to look presentable, and you don't know how to do that. Besides," she said, answering my next question before I could speak it, "all the servants are busy getting everyone and everything else ready for the reception."
I nodded dumbly and picked up my clothes. I looked at Alielle, who made no move to leave. "Um...," I trailed off, nodding towards the balcony.
"Oh, right. I guess you don't want me to see you change, right? I'll just go on the balcony."
That over with, I pulled off my rumpled greyish robe, and put on the ones laid out for me. They were a copy of Schtalubaugh's official robes, but with the colour scheme reversed.
"It's safe now Alielle," I called out to her.
She came back in with a bounce in her step. "It's not like I would have looked you know. You know how my tastes run Hayashi." Alielle's orientation was common knowledge.
"Yeah, I know. We both like girls. Just one more thing we have in common. That's not the point though, and you know it."
I took that moment to pour myself some of the coffee, adding in what would normally be an obscene amount of sugar to it. Alielle thought so too.
"Ugh. How can you drink that with that much sugar in it? Actually, how can you drink Bleached Bones coffee in the first place?"
"The sugar will give me some energy to stay awake, and any coffee less strong wouldn't do me any good," I said after I gulped down one cup, and proceeded to make another.
"Put that down for a second. You're not quite ready yet. Sit," she commanded, pointing to a stool in front of her. I obeyed, my mind to fuzzy to think of anything else.
Alielle reached for a comb and a brush from a drawer in the nightstand, and proceeded to use them on my hair.
"If your hair gets much longer, I think you'll have to wear a turban like Stoneface," she giggled.
"It has been getting a bit shaggy, hasn't it?" In Japan, I had always kept my hair just shy of breaking uniform codes, a fraction above my collar. Since I normally combed it back, some of it was rather long, and I had not cut it after my arrival in El Hazard.
She made a non-commital grunt, and went on, all the while trying to make me look presentable. "You should take care of it Hayashi. You have a nice, thick head of hair. Even Fatora has said you have nice hair."
Fatora? She'd rather walk over hot coals than give me a compliment.
"I'm done. Now, stand up and let me take a look."
I stood and gave Alielle a really goofy grin. She broke out laughing, and straightened my robe a bit.
"There, that should do. Finish your coffee, and don't spill it on the robe. We don't want a stain!"
"Hah. This is Bleached Bones coffee. It won't stain, it'll eat a whole through these," I said in between cups. I knew I had enough coffee when I started bouncing up and down, for no apparent reason.
"Ah Alielle, if you should ever change your mind about men...."
She smiled. "You'll be the first one I call Hayashi, promise. Ready?"
"Let's go." I offered her my arm with great exaggeration. She took it with equal exuberance, and we marched down to the reception, laughing and giggling all the way.
***
The whole court was there waiting, but not for me. Alielle took her place by Fatora, on the dais. Fatora looked like Alielle would have some explaining to do. I took my spot with Schtalubaugh and Londs, before the dais, in front of princess Lune. The doors on the other side of the chamber opened. The sound of trumpets filled the hall.
The delegation we had been waiting for had arrived.
Two beautiful women entered first, strewing the floor with petals that reminded me of cherry blossoms. A boy, maybe ten, maybe twelve, with angelic features and an overly solemn expression on his face. He was followed by twenty gigantic men with pikes in their hands and large scimitars belted to their waists, ten to the left and ten to the right. His honour guard, I guessed.
The boy approached the dais, stepping on the trail of flowers left by the two women who had since disappeared.
The child knelt on one knee, then looked up at princess Lune, still on his knee. "I come to see you at the request of my most honourable lord Gallus, whose name shines in the sun, and whose smile gives joy to his people. I come to see you from lands far away, princess Lune Venus of Roshtaria."
"Why have you come to see us," an aide appeared beside princess Lune to whisper a name in her ear, "Nahato?"
"I come both seeking a boon from my lord, and bearing an important message."
"What is this message, and what is this boon?"
"They are one and the same, princess Lune Venus. These are the words I have been told to speak:
'The beauty and wisdom of princess Lune Venus has reached even unto the lands of my lord Gallus, as has the strength of Roshtaria. My nation is also strong, filled with people working harmoniously towards the greater good, yet we look to the lands across the Rver of God, and we know something akin to fear.
'Thus it came to my lord Gallus that he should seek alliance with others who oppose the Bugrom. It is also the plight of lord Gallus that he is without a wife, without an heir.'
"I have been sent to you princess Lune Venus in an attempt to resolve these two problems. I have been sent as Intercedent to the honourable lord Gallus, to ask for your hand in marriage, and to ally ourselves with you."
A pin could have dropped on the cushions we were sitting on, and you could have heard it at the far end of the cavernous chamber. The crowd was shocked. Princess Lune looked at Nahato, still kneeling, trying to compose her thoughts. I blinked, trying to gather my wits, for a second I shut my eyes.
In that second I dreamt for an eternity. I dreamt of a snake entering into paradise. I dreamt a ghost in Gulistan. I dreamt of deceit; a hidden knife through the heart. I dreamt the world consumed by a hungering darkness, and a raging laughter echoing. I dreamt an unblinking eye, watching us, judging our worth. The eye reached a verdict, sentence was about to be passed, when--
--my eyes opened again. I staggered from the vision. The first I had in over a month.
A vision-- I had to tell her about it, as soon as possible.
As soon as possible turned out to be sooner than I expected, since princess Lune quickly dismissed the court, saying: "Your words are fair, and your intentions agreeable. You must be tired from your long journey however. You need to rest before we continue our negotiations, and I must consult my council. My sister Fatora will see that your needs are taken care of."
Fatora looked like she was going to say something, but a look from her older sister silenced her. People sometimes forget the strength that lies underneath in Lune, even Fatora sometimes forgets it.
Fatora nodded.
Nahato stood up and gave a wide, pleasant smile. "You honour us, princess Lune Venus. I merely hope we can be given the chance to repay your kindness." He bowed, and left with Fatora, followed by his guard.
The rest of the chamber left afterwards, until only four were left: the princess, Londs, Schtalubaugh, and myself. We looked at each other, and nodded in unison. We retreated to a smaller room used for conferences.
"I have something to tell you," I blurted out as soon as the door to the conference room was shut. I had to tell her about what I saw.
"I had a dream again, there, in the chamber. Remember what I said when I first arrived?" Lune nodded while the other two wondered what I was saying.
"Well, it's going to happen. Soon. The time of the prophecies are coming, and we have to gather our strength or else. This could be a chance to strengthen the alliance, we need all the help we can get."
Londs spoke next. "Princess, what is he talking about?"
"I... have an ability. Not all the time, mind you. In fact, not in the past month, but just then, at the reception, I had one. Sometimes I have visions of the future. Usually vague, usually some images that flash by accompanied by a feeling, but I see it. She knows," I nodded towards the princess, "I told her about it before."
Lune Venus nodded and then asked Londs, "What do you think?"
"I'm not sure. The alliance is a fractious group, and we can always use help. This could help us greatly. Still, we do not know much about this Gallus. If what he says is true, then...." Londs trailed off, leaving the obvious unsaid.
"I agree," began Schtalubaugh. "It does not do us harm to enter into negotiations with them. If they prove false, we can break off the talks. If they prove true, all the better."
The princess nodded. "I was thinking along similar lines myself. We will begin talks tomorrow."
***
For the next six months, we went through negotiations. Talks about the balance of power once the marriage was completed, who would command the forces in times of battle; all aspects of the alliance and the marriage, including the matters of inheritance for any children the marriage might have.
After the first month, I was put in charge of the negotiations, Lune having made her position clear to me, and herself having to deal with other matters of state. I found I had a knack for the negotiations; able to get what I wanted without giving away too much.
During the six months, the talks dominated my thoughts, always lurking in the background even during my free time. Visions? I had some, usually the same though.
A snake in paradise, betrayal, a hungry darkness, and a whisper like a caress saying: "soon" over and over again.
We finished negotiations at the end of the six months; it was official now. Princess Lune Venus and lord Gallus were now betrothed. Gallus was on his way to the palace to present the engagement ring, and to sign the treaty.
I was with Lune in one of the gardens when he arrived. Lord Gallus entered Gulistan, effeminate ankle bracelets which drew even more attention to his lean legs than the midnight black stockings he wore. With his mild words and enigmatic smile he greeted the princess. We welcomed the snake in our midst.
End The Coming of Gallus
Part 3: The Advent of the Oracle
in which bad things happen to Hayashi, and the true extent of his power is revealed. Watch out for the kumquats Hayashi! You know it's bad when Fatora wants to cook for you! (well, the title for part 3 is going to be true at least)
Author's notes: This would have been out sooner, but I was having hell with writing a beginning to it that I didn't absolutely hate. On the upside, work on part 3 has started, and writing on a few other ideas has too. I'm still not sure how I like this one, some of the characters and dialogue seems a little forced to me. This was primarily filler, used to set up the last part I think.
Any questions are welcomed, and I will try and answer as promptly as possible.
C&C-- I like it. Give me some and I'll be a happy man. Be as harsh as you want, I don't mind, I'm easy-going about that. Well, on to chapter 3 I suppose.
Note: in my other El Hazard series, Disk #2 is being delayed since I cannot find the original sheet with the history-line of the Bugrom I made up and some of the information I needed from the series. Over Christmas this will be rectified (I remember most of the history, and will have access to the information). Still need a title for it though (in other words, suggestions are welcome)
As for the OMG fic of mine, "Ice Cream" (how long has it been since I posted anything new on you?), I'm still blocking. Just isn't comng together.