El Hazard is the property of AIC and Pioneer LDC.  The author only owns the writing 
and the characters that he himself creates.

Rock and Redemption
Part 16: Roshtaria

Shayla was the first one down into the room quickly followed by the others. Hiashi was 
still mumbling and didn't move. Riho was exhausted from the fight and sat at his feet, 
concerned about his master. Shayla ran over and embraced him. "I'm sorry. I should have 
went with you." she whispered.

If Hiashi was aware of her, he didn't acknowledge it. He just stared blankly forward 
repeating the same sentences. Shayla tried feeding his healing ability with her own 
power. The instant she started, sparks flew. She was forced back and fell over in surprise. 
"What happened?" she said.

"Bad stone men hurt 'ashi. Riho try to do best." Riho said.

"Bad stone men?" Shayla repeated. She pick up a piece of the statues, a face somewhat 
undamaged. She handed it to Fuji acting on a hunch.

"Yep, it's that bastard of a father. Kazusa must have made these statues to get him. But 
how did Kazusa find out about his father?"

"I'll ask him after I eject him from Afura." Shayla said getting up. Again she tried to feed 
Hiashi's healing ability, and again sparks flew. He responded this time, slightly, looking 
at the spot she touched wondering why it didn't work. Bringing his right arm up, he 
examined the Lamp. Power flowed along the circuitry, a glowing indicator vertically 
grew and shrank like a heartbeat. With a turn of a knob at the back of the bracelet, the 
Lamp turned off. He offered a hand to Shayla and looked at her as if he barely recognized 
who she was. She took his hand and his injuries were healed.

"So wearing an active Lamp interferes with his power. Guess it's to keep him from 
healing himself." Makoto said.

"Hiashi, let's go home." Shayla suggested tugging him along.

The trip back seemed longer than before. Jinnai and his followers retreated, but Londs 
insisted on keeping watch. Most of the group was on the deck. Alliele was piloting the 
ship. Shayla walked up from below looking defeated. "No change?" Miz asked answering 
her own question.

"He just sits there. Acting as if no one else is around. All he ever says is 'I killed him, 
again' and 'never again'. I can't snap him out of it." she said frustrated throwing her hands 
up.

"Think about what he's been through. He was forced to face his worst fear. Confront the 
past he thought he left behind." Fujisawa said.

"Exactly! He blasted those statues to rubble with the Lamp of Rock. No training or 
instructions, just boom. I'd say that counts as a win on his part."

"Win or lose, it doesn't matter in some cases. Even the act can be painful. It's not his 
Father, but his conscience." Ifurita said, "Through the endless nights I also tortured 
myself over what I had been forced to do. No matter how I tried to justify what I did, to 
convince myself someone else made me cause mass destruction, nothing worked. I still 
felt guilty. That's how he feels now. He feels the blame of having to destroy Kazusa's 
recreations of his father. Now it is compounded by their attacks which have multiplied 
his feeling of helplessness and shame."

"Sister Shayla," Alliele began nervously, "I think it might kinda help if I went down with 
you to sorta talk to him again."

"All right kiddo. Grab a flask and let's go." Shayla said hefting a wine jug.

"You're not going to get him drunk are you? He's underage!" Fujisawa said.

"Will you lay off? This ain't Japan you know. I'm only going to use it to loosen his 
tongue and talk to me. Like the old saying goes, 'flowing wine helps the truth to flow 
likewise' or something like that." she said going back down with a plan and a helper.

"He buddy, just went top side for some drinks. Thought you must be thirsty." Shayla said 
pouring a cup for Hiashi then herself then Alliele.

"Thanks." Hiashi said in a monotone voice. He sniffed it. "Wine."

"Yep. Some of the best the palace has to offer. Drink up." Shayla returned swallowing 
some herself.

"Father drank. A lot." he said staring at his reflection in the goblet.

"Ahhh we won't let you get too drunk. Right Alliele?"

Alliele nodded. "He was really bad wasn't he?" she asked.

"Yes. And I killed him. Twice."

"Hey, woah, time out. You said that before, but you never told me how you think you 
killed him. The first time I mean."

"He said someone murdered him when he was looking for me."

"So why was he looking for you?" Shayla coaxed.

"He wanted to ... kill me."

"And you feel bad because of that?! The bastard probably just pissed off some nut and 
got himself killed. Or got stinking drunk and waltzed in front of an airbarge or whatever 
you have in Japan. It doesn't make sense. If his ghost followed you here, why did he 
make himself known now? Think about it, Hiashi. Kazusa has power over rock. Statues 
of your father attacked you. Put two and two together. You are not responsible. You can't 
kill something that's not alive. Kazusa used those statues to get to you. Don't let him 
win." Shayla pleaded holding his free hand.

Hiashi looked at his goblet and drained it at once. He held it out for more which Shayla 
was happy to fill. The gloom was still there, but he didn't look as depressed. "Does it ever 
end? Will what happened to you happen to me whenever Fatora shows up?" Alliele 
whispered.

The whisper was heard and the other two stiffened in response. This was the secret Hiashi 
was keeping from me, Shayla realized. She felt pity for Alliele and understanding of 
Hiashi's secrecy. He had a different reason. She reminded him he had a duty, a promise to 
protect her from her tormentor. He searched for the right words. "Yesterday, I would 
have said, yes definitely, it would end. But now I can only hope it will."

Hiashi and Alliele raised their goblets in unison in cheers and emptied them. "Why don't 
you move back to your folks? If we let Rune know what's going on, she'll keep a tight 
reign on Fatora." Shayla suggested.

"I don't know if I'm ready to leave."

"I wasn't ready to leave either. When I did I was so desperate I didn't care where I went." 
Hiashi half-said, half-remembered. He looked at Alliele and said, "If you stay with her, 
you WILL end up like me. Don't let her win."

Shayla smiled inwardly knowing she helped him. Hiashi seemed almost back to normal. 
There was still something off, not quite right. Alliele was definitely better and went off to 
take her station leaving Shayla and Hiashi alone. She moved closer and said, "I'm sorry I 
wasn't there when you really needed me."

"There was nothing you could have done." he replied. His tone was meant to comfort, but 
sounded defeated.

She decided not to argue the point. She tried to change the subject, telling him about 
some of the places El-Hazard had to offer. Then she went on about her childhood in the 
Elemental schools and her rivalry with Afura. Shayla described at length about who 
Afura really was. "When this is all over, I don't want you being paranoid about her." she 
justified.

For the most part, Hiashi didn't talk much. Mostly he gave his opinions about the places 
Shayla described where he generally said either 'sounds like a tourist trap' or 'we'll have 
to go there sometime'. Usually he just sat there and listened and occasionally refilled their 
goblets, hers more often than his. Then she did something he didn't expect, she refused 
more of the wine. "I know my limits. Any more and I'll embarrass myself."

Hiashi was amazed. He knew she liked to drink, it was the one thing he didn't like about 
her. But knowing and respecting your limits put things in a whole new perspective. She 
had control over herself, didn't let it take over. Maybe he could find some of that for 
himself so he won't have to worry about losing control like Father. "So you've traveled a 
lot? I wasn't able to do much. School trips, the occasional outing with the sci-fi club, 
those six sky diving lessons I won last year. Father was firm against us traveling as if we 
were serfs. I think I've seen more of El-Hazard than of Japan." he said as the alcohol 
began to take effect.

Shayla gave him one last glass to empty. This was the part she was waiting for, when he'd 
open up to her and hopefully also feel better for it. "I felt like Father denied myself so 
much. He rarely let me go outside of Shinonome because he didn't want me running off 
with people outside my 'social class'. He didn't like history, just lived it, his version of it. 
Everything was set in stone for all time. On those few days we had meals together, it was 
the same thing for that day of the week. He actually believed being in a rut was things 
were meant to be. So when I was moved out of that, by choice or otherwise, he'd get 
violent. If he ever found out about my being president of the sci-fi club I bet his head 
would explode. Not only was it new and intellectual, by his standards anyway, but I also 
had a position which put me far above where a lowly peasant's son should be. Mom and I 
had to intercept his mail and calls to keep him from finding out. Once the club was going 
down to Tokyo for a film festival and convention, but I couldn't go. He found out and 
thought the club invited me along and gave me such a thrashing I couldn't show my face 
to anyone for a week. He's why I started reading science fiction in the first place. 

"You know the first real novel I read, When Worlds Collide. Earth gets destroyed by a 
passing planet. For weeks I dreamed about being on the ship which escaped. Watching as 
Father gets obliterated from the universe. Every book or show was another dream without 
him, another way to freedom. Sneaking onboard an alien starcraft. A masked hero 
catching Father in the act. Some giant monster squashes the factory Father works at 
burying him under tons of rubble. Those hopes haunted my dreams and wouldn't let me 
give up. Well the dream has come true and he's still here. 

"What I did in the cave was only the first step. He'll come again and again. But I'll stop 
him and I'll keep stopping him until he's gone forever." he finished, running his fingers 
along the Lamp of Rock.

"But you know Kazusa made those things. Somehow he found out about your Father and 
he's trying to get to you." Shayla insisted.

"One ghost can more easily find another. They're working together. Kazusa provides the 
means, Father provides the drive."

"Rhyna thought Afura and Kazusa were working together too. Do you believe that?" she 
challenged.

"No, but a ghost can't possess another ghost. Both hate me. It makes perfect sense that 
they work together."

"Don't get paranoid. I'm sure there's a logical explanation for it. Doesn't that sci-fi of 
yours give you any other ideas?"

"All I can think of are those American Twilight Zone episodes where a person who's 
running from his mistakes winds up being haunted by them forever. There's one where 
this guy in serious debt goes to another dimension and gets far worse problems. Oh what 
have I done to myself? I shouldn't have jumped into that portal." he finished drawing his 
knees to his chest.

"Hey, what about me? What about us? Look me in the eye and say you regret us meeting. 
Or poor Alliele. What do you think would have happened to her without you? All right, 
so you got a psycho ghost after you. At least now you've got friends who will help. Did 
you have that back home? The rest of us faced worse things and lived and we'll live 
through this one too. What if you didn't come here? If you're right, then your father 
would have found you sooner and people would think you're crazy. At least here with me 
you have a chance."

"Thank you, Shayla." he said smiling slightly. "Sometimes I forget what I have 
sometimes. I do have to admit these problems are a bit more interesting than before. At 
least they're easier to talk about in public. <ha>"

Londs cautiously walked down the short flight of stairs, "Excuse me. We are about to 
reach Floristica. Lady Alliele has requested you go with her when she talks with Princess 
Rune. Priestess Shayla, it has been an honor to fight along side of you. I hope you and 
Hiashi will be happy together."

"You sound like you're leaving Londs." Hiashi observed.

"... I am. Alliele told me about her situation. She did not want you to feel that you had to 
constantly protect with her, not with your own life. She has decided to return home and I 
will go with her to return to my previous job as captain of the guard at Castle Relryle. 
Hopefully this will ease the diplomatic tension."

"Diplomatic tension?"

"Alliele is part of the Relryle family. They rule a good-sized country on Roshtaria's 
southeast border. Roshtaria and Relryle have been close allies for decades. Alliele and 
Fatora getting together was something like a diplomatic marriage, a way to strengthen the 
bond between the two countries. But Fatora's treatment and Alliele returning home, well 
that's obviously not going to go over well with her parents. Something big's going to 
happen because of this." Shayla explained.

"So what's going to happen to Fatora?" Hiashi asked.

"I fear there is very little we can do legally. She is of royal birth. At least she has no legal 
power to keep Alliele her. Fatora's fate will be in Rune's hands. The situation is a bit 
more complex since it takes two Princesses to control the Eye of God." said Londs.

"So we gotta keep the little bitch happy or she won't cooperate the next time we need the 
Eye." Shayla muttered.

"Well Nanami said you supervised Makoto when he was in the Eye. Could he fix it so 
only one Princess is needed? Maybe he can take Fatora's place with his power?"

"He never looked into that. He did manage to repair the controls. Those blue bastards 
really did a number on it. At first Makoto thought it was permanently damaged. It might 
not be able to fire again anyway." Shayla said.

"I spoke with the boy about the Eye. He said it is repaired. It was a necessary part of 
returning Ifurita here. Having two Princesses was apparently a safety device to keep one 
Princess from going mad with power. But he said with his power, he should be able to 
replace Fatora if need be."

"Bet he wasn't too happy about that. He hated it enough having to impersonate Fatora 
once." Shayla snickered.

One of the guards called Londs topside as they entered port. The meeting with Rune went 
pretty much as expected. She heard from Alliele first. Then from Fujisawa, whose teacher 
training included things like this. Finally from Hiashi who had to relive some of his own 
horrors as he tried to put into words about how it affects a person and agreed with Alliele 
the best thing for her would be to return home. Rune then heard Fatora's side of things. 
Fatora was her usual self, royally pissed about the charges against her. Her defense and 
behavior only strengthened the case against her.

While Rune was deciding a verdict, she met with her advisors and Makoto about the 
possible consequences. Makoto was there mostly to inform her about the Eye of God and 
what could be done if it was needed again. Realizing the greater good, Makoto swallowed 
his pride and promised he would take Fatora's place if necessary. He was certain he could 
do it considering he had already generated one portal by himself.

Still it was not easy for Rune to give a judgement against her own flesh and blood. But it 
had to be done. She reminded Fatora of her royal obligations and how she failed to live 
up to them. Rune was in tears when she recited her verdict. Alliele would be allowed to 
go home with a formal apology from Roshtaria. Fatora would be denied any contact with 
her or any of Alliele's family for as long as Alliele saw fit. Also Fatora was to be under 
the care of Floristica's medical psychologists and subject to their recommendations. Until 
she was declared sane and no longer a threat to anyone, Fatora was stripped of her rank 
and position.

Alliele and Londs left soon after the verdict was released and Fatora taken away. Fatora 
fought against the guards with every step. Alliele herself was scared, worried, and 
confused. It wasn't just because of Fatora, she was worried about her future. Leaving 
Fatora also meant leaving her other friends. Sure, they promised to visit but it wouldn't be 
the same. Still her spirits rose somewhat before she climbed into the aircar and left. 
Hiashi managed to smuggle a short note in her bag before she left. She discovered it after 
returning to her old bedroom back home. "Remember, with real friends you'll never be 
alone. Siblings forever. Hiashi."

Shayla dragged Hiashi into a private minor celebration that night. He managed to lose 
some of his fear and aversion to alcohol. He still didn't drink as much as Shayla, but she 
knew how to handle it better. She tried to teach him patan, but he wasn't very impressed 
by it. He said it seemed too simple. Throw a card, turn the other one over. Worst part 
about it, he was right. She got him to play a set of ten rounds just to try it out and he won 
eight. His card throwing technique was unorthodox, learned from countless collectable 
card games. The psychological effect of blowing opposing cards away helped his game a 
lot. He tried to teach it to her but the skill was self taught and the flask of wine didn't help 
either. After only an hour of light drinking, talking, and patan, Hiashi had enough. Shayla 
half-led, half-dragged Hiashi to his room and dumped him in his bed.

He fell asleep instantly. Shayla collapsed in a chair and watched him for a moment before 
falling asleep herself. Shortly before dawn, the night chill stirred her from her sleep. 
Tired eyes were drawn to the bed where Hiashi was fighting his mind. He was in the 
middle of a nightmare, tossing in bed muttering feeble protests and soft cries for help 
from an imagined attack from his father and Kazusa. Shayla said his name trying to wake 
him. Instead they only modified his dream. Now Shayla was also being threatened in the 
dream. His mumblings turned to attempts to protect her. Shayla was touched. Again she 
tried to disrupt the dream, shouting his name, clapping near his ears, anything short of 
physically striking him. But all it did was make the nightmare worse. Claps became 
thunder in a terrible storm. A gentle shake transformed into a violent thrashing. A chilled 
wine flask against the cheek was a cold winter gale. Even trying to utilize his healing 
ability failed. Changing tactics, she kissed his forehead. The nightmare stopped, the mind 
was at peace.

Now Shayla was the one who was angry. Despite his brave front, the man she loved lived 
in terror of Kazusa. She was convinced somehow Kazusa was completely responsible for 
Hiashi's Father's appearance. Destroy him and Hiashi's nightmare will end. She wrote 
him a short note, grabbed her tracker and left as the first streaks of dawn appeared on the 
horizon.