The Unnamed Saga: Sisters and Song, Chapter Nineteen: "A Burning Requiem, part one"

Chapter Nineteen: A Burning Requiem, part one

 

Open on a black screen.

 

Mary, off-screen: “Come now, we must hurry.”

 

Zara, off-screen: “Yes, yes, I know, but just to understand.  We’re running toward the danger?”

 

Mary, off-screen: “Yes.”

 

Zara, off-screen: “For Zelos?”

 

Mary, off-screen: “Right again, princess.  How astute of you.”

 

Zara, off-screen: “Who has an ancient god inside of him?”

 

Mary, off-screen: “Correct on all accounts.”

 

Zara, off-screen: “And who also happens to be the source of the danger?”

 

Mary, off-screen: “Now, princess, while it is good to see you’ve been following along with the rest of the class, is there a point to this line of questioning?”

 

Zara, off-screen: “Not really.  I just wanted to make note of the situation.”

 

Elsea, off-screen: “Oh! No.”

 

Open on Elsea standing with her hands over her open mouth.  Waves of heat distort her image; color illuminates her features.  Her eyes are wide with horror.

Mary approaches from Elsea’s side and touches her shoulder.

 

Mary: “Come, dear, there is little we can do at this point save stop him from inflicting further suffering.”

 

Elsea nods, tears in her eyes.

The party rushes on.

Show the cityscape ahead of them.  It is a sea of flame and molten stone.  Brilliant shades of orange and red writhe together.  Blankets of smoke drift over the sea, obscuring the morning sun.

 

Cut to the Anthem cathedral exterior.  More Anthem soldiers have gathered outside.  They are fewer in number than before.  There are a few archers standing among some pikemen.

Anthem Soldier6 points at two other soldiers.

Anthem Soldier6 points ahead.

Two pikemen flank the entrance, standing around the scorched entryway.

Anthem Soldier6 directs the archers down the street.

The archers hide behind the buildings with arrows ready.

Leading the last few pikemen up, they kneel at the base of the stairs with their heads down and pikes ready.

The remains of the barrier bursts outward in a furious, roaring flame.

The flames recede.

The Anthem soldier to the right steps in and lunges.

A wall of flame hits him full on and burns him alive.

The soldier falls as a blackened husk.

Zelos steps out over him.  Flames continue to writhe around him in ribbons of red, orange, and yellow.  He drags Aria by the hand behind him.  Her eyes are still hollow.

He looks to his left, at the soldier standing there.  The soldier is shaking.

An arrow sails in and burns harmlessly as it flies past him.

Zelos lifts his hand and in the distance the buildings hiding the archers explode.

Through a hole in the cathedral awning, Zelos looks up at the sun and smiles.

He walks by the remaining soldier.  Show from an above view him walking off while the soldiers on the stairs launch their assault.

Show the cathedral from a distance, atop the hill.  There is a colorful explosion.  Flames leap from the building in a chaotic dance.

Show Mary at the base of the hill with the party just behind her.  They stop before a long, narrow street leading up to the cathedral.

 

Glenn: “What now?”

 

Mary: “Now, you wait.  I need only one of you, and we all know well who it must be.”

 

Glenn: “Who?”

 

Mary nods at Zara.  Glenn looks at the princess, too.

 

Elsea: “All due respect, Miss Mary, but wouldn’t it be best if we all…”

 

Mary: “No, not really.  While conventional wisdom holds that greater numbers bring greater chances of success, in this instance conventional wisdom is wrong.  Greater numbers means only a greater chance for casualty.  This is no mere sell-sword what hungers for the coins on our head.  It is a god, good lady, and while it has only just woke, it is still in possession of catastrophic power.  With that in mind, it is in our interest to stop it now, before it can worm its way throughout his thin little frame.  For, were that to happen, even I would stand in awe of its raw magical might.”

 

Elsea: “But…”

 

Mary: “Lady Elsea, do try to understand.  We would be battling a star, a charge no amount of magic can stop.  So, heed me when I say, we must act now, and we must act with precision.  Now, princess, will you come with me?”

 

Zara: “Does it have to be me?”

 

Mary: “Now, princess, would I ask in jest?”

Beat.

Mary: “Mayhap I would, in any other situation, but this situation calls for sobriety, does it not?”

 

Zara nods.

Zara takes Elsea’s hand.

Zara: “Elsea, stay here and find shelter.  We’ll come back.”

Zara looks at Glenn.

Zara: “With Zelos.”

 

Elsea: “But, princess…”

 

Zara: “He saved you once.  Let me return the favor.”

 

Elsea wipes her eyes and looks at Mary.

 

Elsea: “You take care of her.”

 

Mary: “She’s quite capable of taking care of herself, but I understand your meaning and intend to.  You have my solemn vow that she will be returned, and in more or less the same condition.”

 

Glenn: “And Zelos?”

 

Mary smirks at Glenn.

Mary: “Well, Sir Knight, should things go as planned, then we will have twice the royal trouble again.”

 

Glenn nods.

Show Mary and Zara running off toward the cathedral with Glenn and Elsea in the background, watching them.

Glenn touches Elsea’s shoulder.

Glenn: “Don’t worry.  Mary is a lot of things, but when it comes to Zelos she’s sincere.”

 

Elsea nods.

 

Cut to the front of the Anthem cathedral.  It is blackened by flames.  The pillars are marred.  Burnt bodies are littered across the steps and the entry way.  Smoke rolls out from the interior.  Pews can be seen burning with magical fire.

Pull back to show Zara and Mary standing just shy of the entrance, still on the steps.

Show their faces.  Zara looks horrified, while Mary simply looks contemplative.

 

Zara: “Oh no.  He’s already left.”

 

Mary: “So it does seem.”

Mary turns to look down the hill.

Show a spout of flame in the distance.  People can be heard screaming.

Mary: “But, he hasn’t made it far yet.  Now, come along, princess.”

Mary and Zara run down the narrow street.

 

Show them from the front, sprinting down the brunt streets.  Anthem soldiers lay scattered around them.  Building fronts are burnt and smoldering.  Heat distorts them.  As they run Zara pants.  She struggles to keep pace with Mary’s long strides.

 

Zara: “Mary, might I ask why you asked me to come along with you?”

 

Mary: “Why, princess, are we having seconds thoughts?”

 

Zara: “No, not exactly.  I’m just curious.  Elsea would have been the better choice, wouldn’t she?”

 

Mary: “No, not really.  While the good lady is a skilled magician in her own right, it is fallacious to assume that we can overpower this opponent with raw might.  Rather, we need another sort of strength, one which you only have.”

 

Zara: “And what sort of strength is that?”

 

Mary: “Another time, princess.”

 

They come to a stop in the street.  Flames are still burning fresh, and so are the bodies.

Show a wave of fire scorching the streets and the people. Dark shadows writhe inside of fire, people burning in the flames.  Screams fill the air.

The flames recede, revealing Zelos at the end of the street.  His eyes are shining.  Heat rises around him, alongside smoke and fire.  Store fronts burn and crumble.  Aria stumbles behind him.

Zara goes wide-eyed.

 

Zara: “Mary, he has her!”

 

Mary: “Yes, and isn’t she quite the docile little sheep and all?  Oh, Flame, if I could interrupt.  A moment of your time, a word at most, if I could bother you for it.”

 

Zelos turns to face her.  He is wearing a crooked, manic smile.

 

Zelos: “You. And here I had thought you withered and died in that human sack long ago.  But no, still you stand.  No doubt the result of all the magic you gleaned.”

His eyes narrow.

Zelos: “What do you want?”

 

Mary: “Why, I think you know well what it is I want.  But if I must spell it out, then I will.  I want the boy what you are inhabiting, and if it’s not much trouble, I’ll take him now.”

 

Zelos: “After everything you’ve done, you have the audacity to come making demands of me? A god?  The answer is no.  The vessel is mine.  It is fulfilling its purpose, and you’ve taken enough from me and mine in your tiny little lifetime.  Now, away with you.  I’ve a world to change.”

 

Mary: “To burn, more like, but then that is your function.  However, I can’t allow it.  You see, there is still much of the world unknown to me, and I fear the return of the gods may just be enough of a distraction to keep me preoccupied for years to come.”

 

Zelos: “With what you stole, you’ve had enough time to see the world a hundred times over.”

 

Mary: “Suppose I get lost along the way.”

 

Zelos: “Your kind often does.  But that is enough.  I’ve spent too much of my time conversing with ants.  I’ve a throne to seize, but I’m sure we will meet again.  Perhaps on the day when the stars come falling from the sky.”

 

Zelos returns to his march, dragging Aria across the street.

Show Zara staring at Mary.

 

Zara: “And that was your plan?  You dragged me along so I could watch while you two had a vague conversation?”

 

Mary: “Careful, now, princess, your impatience is showing.  Now then, Phoenix, darling, do wait up.  I have just one more question for you!”

 

Zelos stops.  He is already across the street.

He turns to his left and glares down the street at her.  Flames writhe in his eyes.

 

Zelos: “What is it now?”

 

Mary: “Well, what you said had just got me thinking, and I was hoping you might just have enough time to explain to this ant…”

 

Zelos: “Out with it!”

 

Mary: “You see, it’s just, should you reclaim your throne as you say, and should the stars fall and the gods return…”

 

Zelos: “You are trying my patience!”

 

Mary: “How, exactly?”

 

Zelos: “What do you mean?”

 

Mary: “I mean, how will you do this?  Consider the past, if you would.  Once upon a time the gods sat on high, ruling man, dictating their every action.  Yet, we overthrew you soundly enough, and now you live on the fringes, existing in idols and rituals and little else.  Your words are echoes growing more mute with each passing moment.  Few know you.  Even fewer acknowledge you, beyond story or myth, and even those are dying slowly with the passing of each new generation.”

 

Zelos: “Your kind only won the war because of the magic Prometheus gave you.  Our magic!”

 

Mary: “Yes, your magic, the magic you were to guard, if I remember correctly.  And good job with that, by the way.  More to the point, I fear you misunderstand me.  Even should the gods return, we still have your magic.  I am proof enough of that.  So, what, exactly, changes, save for now we have hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years of history and experience.  Should the gods once more walk among us, it is only so that they might be sealed again.”

 

Zelos: “Careful.  You’re inciting the wrath of the sun!”

 

Mary: “Oh, please, dear.  A sun?  Once, mayhap, but now?  Now, you’re hardly even a match stick.”

 

Zelos glares and roars.  Flames surge forth from his mouth.

Pull back to show the flames spreading to fill the street.  They pour forward and roll over Mary and Zara.

Show the flames from the inside.  Mary is standing with a single hand raised and her runes gleaming.  A red barrier surrounds them and the flames part around it.  Zara is ducked down behind her, covering her head.

Zara peeks up in surprise.

Zara stands.

 

Zara: “This was your plan?”

 

Mary: “A part of it, yes.  Now, princess, he is distracted and unlikely to try and run away.  While he is caught in the burning passions of his rage, I will use my magic to confine him and then send your consciousness into his body.  There, you will search for Zelos and set him free.”

 

Zara: “You can do that?”

 

Mary: “Oh, yes, of course.  It is old magic, one which I haven’t used in quite some time, but still.  Quite like walking, I imagine, and I picked that back up after thirteen years, didn’t I?  Anyhow, enough chatter.  His power is growing with each passing moment, and conversely that means the prince is fading.  So, are you ready?”

 

Zara: “No, not in the least.  This is crazy, and why are you sending me to do this?  Zelos and I can’t stand each other!”

 

Mary: “Exactly!”

 

Zara: “I’m sorry, I don’t follow.”

 

Mary: “Well, what better way to get him out of his own head then to send you in after him?”

 

Beat.

 

Zara: “Fair enough.”

Zara notices her cloak burning at the edges.

She strips her cloak and lets it be swept up in the fire.

Zara stares ahead determinedly.

Zara: “Alright, then.  Let’s do this.”

 

Mary: “Of course, princess.  And might I say, I am quite impressed with your resolve, and I expect we shall have the prince back in short time.  Now, then.”

Show the stream of fire roaring down the street.  Zelos stands at a crossroad with the flames erupting from his open mouth.

Hold this image, but in the center of the fanned flames show the fire swelling.

Show a red magical barrier containing the fires partway through the street.  It is curling over the fire and sending the flames back toward Zelos.  They curl up and around the edge of the half-dome.

Mary walks down the street, walking the fire back to him.  The dome of red-light is compressing Zelos and surrounding him.

Mary traps Zelos in the magic.  The flames surround him.  Aria kneels limply at his side.

Zara rushes to check on Aria while Mary contains the fire.  Mary has her hand up, and the fires are now contained into Zelos’ mouth, which glows furiously.  He is glaring at her while her magic surrounds his body.

Mary forces him to one knee while Zara stands behind him.

Mary reaches through the magic and touches Zelos’ forehead.  Her eyes begin to glow.

Magic sizzle and surges in Mary’s eyes.  She looks at Zara and reaches out her hand.

Mary: “Now then, princess, are you ready?”

Zara takes a deep breath.

Zara nods and takes Mary’s hand.

Mary smiles.  Red light spills out of her teeth.

Mary: “Good luck.”

The screen goes red.

 

Open on the sound of crackling fire over a white screen.

Zara, off-screen: “Okay, where am I now?”

Show Zara standing alone.  She is in a burning forest.  Large trees surround her and all of them are aflame.  Everything is awash with color, including Zara.  She is in a pink and red gown.  The heat of the area warps everything.

Zara looks around.

Zara: “Fire.  So, this is what he sees?  It’s horrible.”

Zara stops and stares ahead.

Show a thin trail leading through the forest of flames.  Beyond it a hill rises in the distance.

Zara takes a deep breath and marches forward.

 

Cut to farther ahead.  Zara is still surrounded by a burning forest.  She is stopped in a tangle of brambles.

She grabs one and winces.

Show her looking at her bloody hands and frowning.

 

Zara: “Oh, gods, this is ridiculous.  Zelos!  Zelos, where are you, damn it?”

 

Zelos, off-screen: “He is where he belongs, in bondage and indisposed.  The question you should ask is, where are you?  Do you even know?”

Zara turns.

Show Zelos standing in the flames.  He is wearing an elaborate red and gold gown that hangs from his body and undulates like fire.  He wears golden bangles and jewelry that glitter in the light.  His eyes glow, and he is smiling.  He stands in the flames, which swirl around his body.

Zelos: “The little mortal princess.  What are you doing here?”

 

Zara: “I’ve come to get you, you fool.”

Zara takes a single step and stops.  Her eyes narrow.

Zara: “No, wait.  You’re not him.  You’re…”

 

Zelos: “I am fire and heat.  I am Phoenix.  I am Flame.”

Zara takes a step away and lifts her arms in defense.

Zelos: “Fear not, I’ve no interest in you.  I came only because I was curious.  Now sated, I will return to the matter at hand and burn the city to the ground.  With you and that woman in it.”

 

Zara: “So, you won’t stop me?”

 

Zelos: “I won’t need to.  You’ve come to free him, but kingdoms will crumble before you succeed.  Soon, I will spread and flourish.  Destiny can hold me only so long, and then…”

Zelos opens his arms.  The flames rise and flare.

Zelos: “Then, this land is mine.  Watch how it burns!”

 

Zara: “I will free him.”

 

Zelos: “You will do what all mortals do.  Die.”

 

Zara scowls.

Zara: “If you’re so certain, then where is he?”

Zelos smirks and points ahead.

Zara turns back to face the brambles.

Zara: “Up ahead?”

 

Zelos: “Now, I’ve a throne to reclaim, little ant.”

 

Zara: “You’re leaving?”

 

Zelos: “I’ve told you already, I merely came to see what was crawling through my head.  Having found you, I am satisfied, and can return to my work.”

Zara turns to face him.

Show Zelos’ face.  He is smiling manically.  Fires burn in his eyes.

Zelos: “Soon. I will reclaim my throne, and your cities will burn.  Then, the stars will fall, and man will follow.”

 

Zelos disappears in a burst of flame.

When the flames part show Zara standing in the brambles.  She has her arms up and cinders dance around her.

She turns to the brambles, scowling, and grabs some.

Show blood running down the brambles from her hands.

Show Zara wincing as she swallows a curse.

Screaming, she tears them apart.

She looks at her hands again.  They are bloody and burnt.

She looks ahead, determined.

She steps into the flames.

 

Cut to Zelos sitting atop a hill.  He is wrapped with burning vines to a standing stone slab.  The stone is slick black and gleams in the light.  It has rough runes cut into it.  Fire surrounds him, parted only to give a path up to him.  Zelos’ body bleeds from runes cut into his flesh.  His skin sizzles and burns.  There are blisters across his arms and chest.  His head hangs to one side, with his hair in his eyes.

 

Zara, off-screen: “That damn boy!  When I see him, I swear by the hells…”

Show Zara pushing through burning brush.  Her gown is tattered and burnt.  Her arms, limbs, and face are black with soot.  She has fresh burns and cuts across her body.  Blood runs down her hands.

She stops when she stares into the clearing and stares in shock.

Zara: “Oh no. Zelos!”

Zara runs to the stone slab.

Zara: “Zelos?  Zelos!  By the gods, Zelos, what happened to you? Are you okay?  Answer me. Answer me, damn it!”

Zara grabs the vines and tugs on them.

She braces against the stone slab with one foot and pushes.

The vine she is holding snaps, and she falls to the ground.

She repeats the process once.

Twice.

Three times.

Show Zelos slide form the rock and into her arms.

Zara falls to the ground with him on top of her.

Zara: “Somehow, I had always imagined you to be lighter.”

She shoves him off of her lap and sits up.

Show her staring at him red-faced.

Show him lying, naked and unconscious.

Zara glances down.

Zara: “Well, now I’ve seen it all.  You’ve embarrassed me, as I am sure you would have wanted.  So, wake up already!”

Zara shakes him, but he remains unconscious.

She scowls.

Zara: “Now, you listen here, you silly, spoiled brat of a boy!  We’ve went through an awful lot of trouble for you.  I’VE been through an awful lot of trouble, so you stop being your damned stubborn self and wake up.  Now!  Or by the seven hells, I swear, I’ll give you nightmares that make this thing seem pleasant.”

Show Zelos breathing softly.

Zara crosses her arms.

Zara: “Oh, come now, that’s as kindly as I can ask, and you know it!”

She sits beside him, staring resolutely at him.

She looks at him more softly.

Zara: “Please, Zelos, don’t be difficult now, not after everything we’ve went through.”

She sighs and curls up.

Zara: “Weeks, months, spent waiting for you and Dawn, and now we finally find one of you, and you’re too damn lazy to wake up and carry yourself.  Well, Zelos, even if could I carry you, which I can’t, I don’t know the way out.  And I think only you do.  So, just wake up already.”

Zara looks at him.

Zara: “Please.  I’ve already lost Dawn, I can’t lose you, too.”

Zara sighs and stands.  She dusts her gown off.

Zara: “You can just never listen, can you?”

 

Zelos, off-screen: “Zara?”

 

Zara turns and looks down at him.

 

Zara: “About time.”

 

Show Zelos lying on his back, staring up at her.  He looks tired and pale underneath the burns.

 

Zara: “Where are my clothes.”

 

Zelos: “I’ve been wondering the same thing myself.  Feel free to cover yourself whenever you like.  You have nothing to be particularly proud of.”

 

Zelos sits up slowly and holds his head.

 

Zelos: “Yeah, thanks, and where exactly are we, anyway?”

 

Zara: “You, I think.”

 

Zara helps him up.

 

Zelos: “And what does that mean?”

 

Zelos nearly falls, and she supports his weight.

 

Zara: “It means we’re inside of you.  Inside of that empty space between your ears from how Mary explained it.”

 

Zelos: “Ah-huh.”

 

Zara: “You see, you have an evil god that is possessing you.”

 

Zelos: “Right.”

 

Zara: “And Mary sent me inside to save you.”

 

Zelos: “Why you?”

 

Zara: “I had asked the very same thing. Now, come on, I’ve had enough fire and smoke for one life time.  Let’s get out of here.  I’m sure Glenn and everyone will be happy to see you.”

 

Zelos: “Probably.  And Zara, thanks.”

 

Zara: “Just cover it, will you?”