Valkyrie's Page of Wonder

August 06, 2007

Sneak Preview! - Fallen Angel - End of the War

The forces of Bast did their best to destroy him, but Valkyrie’s dark shield protected him from everything. With the last of his army already defeated there was no chance to win this battle, let alone the war.
The elves of the forest cease their attack and begin to surround Valkyrie, careful of any sudden moves or increase in power. Knowing he is defeated, Valkyrie lowers his shield and waits, eyes closed, till a familiar voice speaks to him.
“You are a foolish man, Valkyrie,” the voice states. “Why do you expose yourself like this instead of flee?”
Valkyrie opens his eyes and looks straight into the face of Gatomon, High Priestess of Bast. Even though she had transformed into a hybrid cat for the battle, Valkyrie could still make out her features. He watches her carefully for a moment, thinking back to all his previous encounters with her.
“Why I choose to stay is none of your concern.”
“I could kill you where you stand you realize.”
“Then why don’t you? Are you afraid? My army’s destroyed! I stand here alone on the field of battle and still you fear me? Perhaps I underestimated you.”
“You have tricked us too many times before with your calls for peace. I will not make the same mistake again.”
Valkyrie takes a step toward Gatomon causing her to straighten up and several elves to ready their bows.
“So are you going to strike me down? Will you take this life that is being offered to you? Kill one defenseless human to save the lives of hundreds of thousands?”
“You’re no human! You’re a monster!”
“Monster?! I’m not the one who looks like a mutated panther!”
Gatomon takes a step back and thinks about that for a moment. She nods slightly and begins to transform back to her human form. Her shiny black fur falls off revealing her bare skin. After a few more second she stands in front of Valkyrie as a full human woman.
“I am not a monster on the inside, Valkyrie. Unlike me, you can’t take off what makes you a monster. You are a monster all the way to the core.”
Valkyrie slowly draws his sword from its sheath and hands it to Gatomon.
“If I truly am only a monster, you should have no trouble with what you must do.”
As Gatomon takes the sword, Valkyrie closes his eyes and raises his hands, waiting for the final blow. She watches him stand there waiting for her to strike, knowing she’s not supposed to kill a defenseless person. Moments pass, and the air stops. The only audible sound Gatomon can hear is her own slow breathing. She raises the sword and points it at his heart.
“Forgive me,” Gatomon whispers.
With one swift motion she plunges the sword into his chest causing him to stumble then fall. Valkyrie looks up at Gatomon as blood begins to trickle out of the side of his mouth.
“Perhaps now we can all have peace…”
Valkyrie winces in pain and collapses, lying motionless on the ground. Gatomon drops the sword on the ground next to Valkyrie while an elf runs up behind her to wrap her in a cloak.
“Is he really dead?”
“Yes, Valkyrie is dead. The war is over.”
“It’s over? Then why aren’t you more pleased?”
“He was right. I was afraid. Am afraid… Not of him or what he might do, but of what I might have to do. And now I’ve done it. I’ve killed a defenseless person.”
“But you said he was a monster.”
“Despite all his faults and everything he’s done or would have done, he was still human. He offered me his life, and I crushed it. Celebrate if you want, but I need to be alone for a while.”
Gatomon ties the cloak around her naked body and heads off into the Forest of Enlightenment. The elves cheer and race back into the forest to tell stories of Valkyrie’s last moments. Stories that will be at the most, half true.
Valkyrie’s spirit stands up from his fallen body and looks around. He then turns to the Forest of Enlightenment and watches Gatomon disappear behind the trees.
“Is this what you wanted, Bast? The forces of Kardis destroyed? Your precious land saved? For over four hundred years I’ve begged, I’ve pleaded for you to hear me so this is my final request of you. Welcome me back into your arms. Let me embrace my love once again.”
He waits for a response but hears nothing.
“Am I already too lost? Have I taken too many lives? Do you even remember me? Or have you forgotten me entirely?”
Still nothing.
“I’m dying, Bast! I only want redemption for my soul. Can’t I at least have that?!”
Silence.
“Will you deny me even unto death? How can you remain silent?”
Valkyrie starts to feel the warm touch of Bast’s power.
“Is it? Have you finally come to take me home?”