So, This is Fate?

The year, 1221. My name is Ahab, I live in Telethia, the heart of Mesia. The nation which sought to unite heaven and hell. Quell the rebellious evil’s actions against the Auralians’, and reach an agreement to meet at a compromise for peace. Only a year ago, we were on our way to peace. World peace. The Auralians and Shoten negotiations treaty was nearly in effect, the world was healing from the 100-year war that just ended. Dammit. Now… we are back into chaos. Back into this dystopian reality of destruction and malice, perpetuated by titanic beings our people consider Gods and Demons. Way I see it, is they are nothing more than just war-mongering politicians, no different than the men who began the 100-year war. Quarrelling old men, thrusting this world into agony over petty lack of understanding. Obsessing over their ways, and only their ways. Never considering how humanity would respond. We are only an income source, a way to build infrastructure, transportation, “humble” servants, hell, and now only casualties in their ruthless rage.

I can hear the combat drawing close from outside this transport tank. Reaching into my black clad scale-mail hauberk, I draw out the heart shaped locket I keep pressed to my chest. Looking down and releasing the clasp, I open it to see the crack growing larger. The crack over my love, Willow. It seems to grow with every passing moment. An ominous reminder of my sin, and what is at stake. It has been a year since I’ve held her, heard her voice, seen her glorious curly hair flipping and waving through the wind. This anxious feeling deep in my heart and gut has not left for a moment, but these feelings… they are proof enough that she is still alive. That I can still save her. I know she lives. I just know it.

We draw near. I can hear the storm of violence beginning to roar its mighty thunder of combat between giant men and women, roars of the Ram rifles’ explosive blasts, and the thundering cries of Gods, man, machine, and beast. If I weren’t so exhausted from fighting demons and men alike, I would have more energy to be afraid of the battle we ride to. Today is the day, the fate of the tides of war are decided. The Shoten are taking the sacrifices to the center of the city, to merge the dimensions. Surrounded by the crumbling remains of my beautiful home. Returning the locket back under my adornments, I grab my rifle, and spear. I feel the vehicle lurch to a stop. We are here. With the loud screech of the tank hatch-door opening, the exit light switching to green, we storm out of the metal beast and into the hurricane of rage and fear.

A little over one year prior…

“These titanic oafs can really get to me sometimes,” I proclaim under my breath to Willow.

“Can it, or they will bring the hammer down on both of us. This time on me specifically, because I swore, I would keep you in good behavior for the following weeks, and keep your big mouth shut!” she snarled quietly back.

This brings a chuckle out of me. Looking away from the beautiful woman I’ve fell for, I scan around the oversized white and gold round table made for Gods and men to meet, and observe the acute formalities of everyone, and the stiffness in their perceived “nobility.” Truly oafs, big, civilized oafs. Except for my friend, Gin Kyo, the fourteen-foot tall, three-eyed, grey and black humanoid tiger sitting next to me. Whom has been staring at me this whole time.

“When did you grow so timid, Ahab? Never heard Willow shut you up THAT fast.” Gin Kyo said teasingly, whilst nudging my arm, “Don’t tell me you have already seen, IT?”

“Thought the rules were to keep our mouths closed regarding personal love affairs, my big, fluffy, kitty cat, buddy?” I retorted puckishly.

Letting out a low and hushed growl, “I’m a Tigrelthian, not some damn kitty cat!” he snarled quietly back.

Snickering, I look up to see Otoni, the vice-president of the Auralian defense commitee, glaring across the table at us. Not able to hold back, we both erupt into laughter. Otoni, still gazing at us with his stone expression says sternly, “You two know the rules.”

“Worth it?” Willow asked giggling.

“Absolutely!” I announce boldly.

Otoni shushes me loudly, while trying to contain a smirk.

Ah, finally! Closing statements. Sounds like it is about to finally be disclosed.

“The day that the Shoten have agreed to initiate peace negotiations, has been adjudicated for the upcoming 15th of Eavesdale. That gives you all three days to prepare. Appropriate formal attire for a class five event will be expected on entry,” Otoni announced.

“Hmph, typical of the Sho-ten, declaring a day that provides such little time to prepare,” Theordan, the current President of the committee, scoffed, disrespecting his own rules of formality in meeting.

“Always gotta be something with that guy, huh, Ahab?” Gin whispered, “I honestly prefer sooner, especially when it is this serious, don’t you agree friend?”

“Agreed.”

Following a few closing statements regarding further formalities, the meeting is adjourned, and we are dismissed. Willow stepped close to me, placing a hand on my chest, “Hey… you haven’t forgot about the-,”

“Art show, of course not! In fact, I’ve been making a few extra plans, like where we could eat after,” I interrupt while giving a wink.

“Hmm?”

“It’s a surprise!”

Giving me an aggravated look, “You know I hate surprises.”

“Too bad!” I respond chuckling, grabbing her hand, “Speaking of food, let’s eat!”

Gin Kyo, grabbed my shoulder suddenly, leaning his forehead to me, insinuating to look into his third eye. “You should tell her… Not often do I see it so pure,” he said telepathically before letting go of my shoulder and walking ahead down the hallway. I look to Willow, but decide to hold my tongue and dwell on my Godly friend’s words.

Thirteen days later…

What an absolute disaster! It has only been ten days since the contretemps between Theordan and Ansel, the Shoten commander, over the ending of the 100-year war. Only ten days, and because of our “president’s” lack of common sense, we are looking at the collapse of a mostly peaceful new day. Ansel reverted the propaganda over the Shoten people from doctrine of pleasure and drunkenness, which settled the angry fires within their hearts, back to the infuriating wartime hate speech and mind washing of disdain for their Auralian neighbors. Ansel is a demon of knowledge, who knows the limits of the human mind, and can drive them into mad men, not unlike the lesser demons he commands. There is no violence yet, but the people are growing hostile. News media are divided on both fronts, corporate scheming to make money off yet another crisis and perpetuating a drive for war. Demons in themselves, who are asserting the doctrines of Theordan and Ansel. Neither good.

Riding in the sky-train, I look down at the rioting crowds in the neon and stone streets. Masses of people dividing themselves over lifestyles and creeds. Not one of them realizing that they are the same people, being oppressed by powerful men, who only live longer and stand taller than us. Sure, Willow, and I are only grunts, Lieutenants working under command of the defense committee, but I am certain that we can stop this before it carries on. All I need is an audience with Ansel. I’d be willing to do or give anything to secure a peaceful world for Willow to live. Nobody knows that I am doing this. It is risky, but I have put thought into my speech to present to him. I carefully analyzed his mannerisms during the negotiations summit.

Passing through the border tunnel, I arrive in the desert side of Telethia. Closing in on Ansel’s pyramid castle. I feel the thin veil of reality begin to crumble around me. Every movement and thought gain tremendous weight. What is this surreal feeling? It is as though some great transcendental being is hovering a taloned hand over my soul, waiting for me to decide on some fate. What have I gotten myself into?

Present Day…

Those memories, why now? Why now must I be reminded how that Demon, that monster…!? This is the most important battle of this war, no, of my life! Despite this, my mind can do nothing but perceive the visuals and words of Ansel when he tricked me into sacrificing my one true love. Through all the fire, plasma beams, and thundering footsteps, I feel a sharp and icy gust of wind pass right through me. Reminding me of where I am, but not stripping the déjà vu from the fabrics of time and space linking the visions of then and now into one moment. A darkness engulfing me…

“Is this fate…?” I whisper to myself.

Before my ego tries to answer that question, I look up to see a Shoten titan sprinting towards our transport tank, accompanied by the loud and hastened stomps of Gin Kyo coming from behind. Just before being pummeled between two titans, Gin leaped over my head and landed a lariat move on the Shoten, flipping him to the ground, shaking the Earth beneath us.

“MOVE AHAB!!! GO SAVE WILLOW AND STOP THE PORTALS FROM OPENING!!!” Gin screamed reverberatingly.

Without thinking, I started sprinting towards the city center, dodging the footsteps of Gods and Demons, the explosions of air raid bombs, the combustible impacts of the advanced rifles, carrying on through the flames of evil that is war. Confronted by lesser demons pouring in through minor rifts, and the manipulated soldiers of man, I fight valiantly and gracefully wielding my spear. Slicing a path into this sea of structural decay and destruction caused by the folly of Gods’ and mans’ greed and intolerance. I will make it to her. I must.

Fighting through countless enemies, feeling my body tire slowly, yet not at all in the surreal disconnection of fate. I start to catch a glimpse of the demoniac ritual structure, dropped from the goliath air carrier in the skies above. Yet again, déjà vu. It is as though I have seen this before. Nonetheless, I see enough of a clearing. I dig the blunt end of my spear into the ground and flip myself over the enemies in front of me, leaving them in the dust behind me. Bolting towards the structure. Ansel, in a winged form, drops from above, but does not attack.

“ANSELLLL!!!!” I scream, “I HAVE COME TO TAKE WILLOW BACK!!!”

Ansel only chortles a long and maniacal laughter, before reaching out his large, clawed hands to grab me up. Pinning my arms to my chest, breaking my spear and rifle. I oddly do not fear for my life. No, I fear something else. Something far worse. Ansel flies us over to the ritual structure, where I see two portals are already opened. Then, I see Willow, bound and defeated. Horror, anger, powerlessness, and desperation fill my entire being as look her in the eyes for the last time. Time seems to freeze for but a moment, until… the glint of an edged weapon pierces the sky. My heart grows silent, the war grows silent, there is no noise but the howl of the ice-cold wind cutting through me, and the faint crack of glass. The final snap of tempered sand locked into the shape of a heart, protecting the image of my love’s face, shattered. With it, the locket of my joy, Willow.

“Is this fate?” I murmur shakingly, as I fall to my knees. “Is this all my doing?”

Ansel looks into my eyes, as I collapse, realizing I never told her what Gin told me to… that I saw our spark. He smiles, saying but one damning word,

“YES.”

The End.