Destiny's Fool

THE END. D:

PS: Talking Butterfly, there will always be typos. Always. XD

--


Kit saw the Flying Palace. It was rather pretty. It shined like a star in the night, hovering just above a circular city, which was covered in large buildings. However, it was easy to see that the place was nowhere as grand as it had used to be.

As Kit walked through the streets, he saw people crawling around like animals, living in their own filth and slime. Broken parts of buildings went unattended in the streets. Several houses had collapsed altogether, causing the entire place to feel broken apart.

Eyes watched Kit as he walked, as though seeing what Kit had that could be of value to them. However, Kit had only brought his tarot cards.

He was in no hurry as he made his way towards the Palace. It loomed in front of him, beautiful and bright, and yet it held so much evil and malice for him. His sympathy went to the brilliant structure, forced to be impregnated with such darkness.

“Where are you going?”

Kit slowly turned and looked at Flora and Ezra.

“Exactly where you want me to,” Kit said, “To destroy Melanie.”

“We had assumed you wouldn’t do it after we’d told you the truth,” Ezra mused.

“Just because you two are assholes doesn’t mean I’m not going to help this world,” Kit said, “This is my choice. You have nothing to do with it.”

“Flora, perhaps we should not be present,” Ezra said.

“I agree,” Flora said and with that, the two of them disappeared.

Kit continued to walk towards the Palace. Once he was near, he realized why it was called the Flying Palace. Below it was a huge fissure, leading into nothing by darkness. Kit didn’t know how the castle stayed up.

Deciding it didn’t matter, he stepped onto the stone path, walking towards the front gates.

“Where are you going, Little One?”

Kit stopped and turned. “Rose…” he said.

She stood, holding her scythe, at the end of the path, watching him, expressionless. Kit faced her.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“This is my fight,” Rose replied simply, “I won’t allow you to fight it for me without at least accompanying you.”

“Your fight?” Kit asked.

“You’ll be seeing soon enough,” Rose said, “Come along, Little One.”

Kit nodded and the two of them walked down the path together. The doors were open, but four guards were posted there. Before they even saw the intruders, Rose pulled back her scythe and attacked. They were down without even seeing their faces.

The two of them proceeded into the Palace, which was expansive without comparison. Kit looked around, then turned and walked down a particular hallway.

“Do you know where you’re going?” Rose asked.

“Usually,” Kit said with a soft smile.

“How do you plan to do this?” Rose then asked.

“I’m not sure,” Kit said, “But I’m betting something will happen that will allow me to win. Something had better.”

“Or what?”

Kit paused. “I suppose I’ll be pretty pissed off,” Kit said.

“You’ve grown so much in the past few days,” Rose commented, “It’s extraordinary.”

“Is it possible to grow and not accept it?” Kit asked, “I think that’s what I did. I had grown but I refused to show it or accept it. I clung to the ungrown part of me. After awhile, I let it all go. It almost seemed instantaneous.”

“You are an amazing person, Little One,” Rose said.


“Thank you,” Kit replied. He stopped in front of two large double doors. “So honestly… you’re not from this planet are you?”

“No,” Rose replied.

“Everyone suspected it, though no one said anything,” Kit said, staring up at the door, “I guess we all supposed you had your reasons for not telling us.”

“I feared that you would hate me,” she admitted.

“Why is that?” Kit asked, glancing at her.

“Because…” Rose hesitated, “Because I could have made your journey much easier. But I was afraid if I interfered too much, I would change destiny.”

“So you knew I was going to destroy Melanie?” he asked.

“I did,” Rose said, “I came looking for you. I nearly refused to go with Jinn and Branret until I realized that Branret must have been the Katze to accompany you. Once I realized that, I joined you.”

“Why?” Kit asked, “If you’re not from here, why bother?”

Rose was silent. “Because, Melanie is my younger sister.”

As calm as Kit had been this whole time, he was startled now. “Wh-what?” he asked.

“Only those with the blood of a god can tamper with souls,” Rose said, “I thought you’d figure me out for who I was when I saved Dalune. But no one said anything. I saved Dalune because when they said he was Melanie’s son, I realized he was my nephew.”

“You’re as powerful as Melanie?” Kit asked, confused.

“Close,” Rose said, “But not really. Somehow, she’s always been the stronger of the two of us. So no matter how many times I’ve tried to stop her from causing anymore shame to us demi-gods, I lose. I accompanied you and your companions to make sure you survived until this point. I tried to talk as little as possible and do as little as possible in order to keep fate from changing. I see now that was never a problem.”

“So you’re not really that quiet?” Kit asked.

“Not quite as much,” Rose said, “But still quiet. In this case, I was trying to go unnoticed, even by those I traveled with.”

Kit nodded. “Makes sense I suppose,” he said.

“I’m glad you understand,” Rose replied.

“I have to do this before I lose my nerve,” Kit said.

“I understand.”

With that, Kit pressed against the door, opening it.

~:~

“Jinn…? Hey, wake up…”

Jinn groaned, opening his eyes. He felt strange and his limbs felt heavy.

All he could remember is suddenly being locked in a world of blackness. No one tried to create alluring illusions. Instead, the more resolved he became to escape, the more he struggled and the closer he got. Finally, once he’d felt himself escape, he’d passed out.

Now he was looking up at the faces of Gate, Holy, Branret and Dalune.

“Wh-what happened…?” Jinn asked, thinking it might have been a dream.

“I don’t know, but Kit’s gone,” Branret replied.

Jinn sat up with a jerk.

“That idiot!” Jinn said frantically, trying to stand. However, his vision blacked out for a moment and he sat down with a heavy thud.

“Calm down, you’ll make yourself pass out again,” Gate said sternly.

“He went to the Flying Palace alone, didn’t he?!” Jinn growled, fighting with Gate as he struggled to sit up.

Gate pushed him down. “Probably, but Rose is with him, we think,” he said.

“He’ll take Rose, but he won’t take me?!” Jinn growled.

“I can see why,” Holy remarked.

Before Jinn could retort, Branret interrupted him. “Jinn, there’s something different about you,” he said.

“Huh?” Jinn looked at him.

“Mm, maybe it’s my imagination,” Branret muttered.

Jinn shook it off, finally stopping in his attempt to fight off Gate.

“So why aren’t we going after him?” Jinn asked, glaring at all of them.

“What can we do?” Gate asked.

“It’s up to him at this point,” Dalune said.

“Didn’t you hear any of what he said yesterday?!” Jinn shouted, “If you make a choice, you make your own destiny! Don’t choose to do nothing!”

“I’m choosing to honor Kit’s wishes,” Holy said simply.

“Me too,” Branret said.

Gate and Dalune both gave small nods.

“Well I choose to go after him!” Jinn shouted, standing. Gate didn’t stop him, just grabbed his shoulder, turning him so they were looking one another in the eye.

“You’re going to interfere with his choice,” Gate said, “You were the one who wasn’t listening yesterday.”

Jinn stared at him and sat down hard, burying his face in his hands. “What does everyone expect me to do?” he asked softly, “Just wait and see how he’ll die?”

“Then go help him,” Holy said, “But don’t try to stop him.”

Jinn glanced at him and sighed, standing. “You’re probably right. That whiney little blonde brat wouldn’t let me stop him if I tried.”

“So go,” Holy smirked, “We’ll be waiting here for when the two of you get back.”

“But, Holy… don’t you realize… he’ll…?” Jinn said quietly.

“I’ve chosen to believe otherwise,” Holy folded his arms, “Please don’t interfere with my choice, Jinn.”

Jinn sighed and stood up. “I’ll be back!” he shouted and took off running towards the Palace.

“I swear, there’s something different about him…” Branret said, chewing his lower lip.

“Like what?” Dalune asked.

Branret was quiet, trying to figure out what had changed. His mind compared Jinn from his memory of him to how he’d just appeared.

Suddenly, Branret’s face went blank.

“… I guess no one could catch up to him now…” he said.

“Why?” Holy asked.

“Could we?” Branret asked.

“No,” Gate replied, “He moves faster than any of us. Why?”

“Then…” Branret suddenly started laughing, “I hope he realizes that stupid tail is gone before he reaches the Flying Palace or he’s dead!”

~:~

“Come in.”

Kit took a moment to look inside the door. Melanie sat in the center of the room, relaxed and stretched out among several dark satin pillows, comfortable. Around her there was food, drink, servants and several various beauty projects.

Melanie herself was impressive. She had bright crimson eyes and long hair that matched that color which spread out around her. Standing, the length must have reached to the floor. She wore a tight fitting green dress, the slit reaching her hip and beyond.

“You came sooner than I expected,” she said, watching Kit with a soft smile. “Wine?”

“I’m underage,” Kit replied.

Melanie laughed. “My, my, the Traveler isn’t quite what I expected,” she said, kicking one high-heeled foot in the air, stretching out on her stomach. “Oh, hello, Marie. How have things been with you?”

Rose glared at her younger sister.

“Still ugly, I see,” Melanie said, sitting up and crossing her legs. “So what is it you want from me?”

“I want you to leave these people alone!” Kit growled.

Melanie smiled, not even a cruel smile, but a soft sympathetic smile. “People? Is that how you see them?” she replied, “I see a herd of sheep.”

“They think and feel the same as you, Melanie,” Rose said, stepping forward.

“Do they?” Melanie asked, resting her head. “Then why is it that without guidance, they’re aimless and unhappy, bleating out for someone to lead them? Mortals are easy to control. The simplicity of it is simply that if you kill the sheepherder, you become the sheepherder. That’s all I did.”

“They were happy!” Kit shouted, “And now they’re not!”

“Did I say they had to be happy?” Melanie asked, “That fool Forzen couldn’t have been happy. You see, it’s one or the other. Do you know how it feels to totally give yourself to people who are ingrateful and demanding?”

“I’m here aren’t I?” Kit said.

Melanie’s eyes went wide for a second, then she laughed. “I suppose you are,” she said, “So tell me, Traveler… What do you plan to do now?”

Kit was silent.

“You don’t know?” she asked, “A pity. While you’re deciding, would you like a glass of wine?”

“This is a game to you, isn’t it?” Kit asked.

“Pretty much,” she said, pouring herself a glass.

Kit walked forward, standing over her. She was low to the ground and was looking up at him. He watched her with heated eyes before slapping her across the face.

Melanie’s face was shcoked, to say the least. Whatever she had expected, this wasn’t it. Kit stood there, scowling.

“Little One…” Rose said nervously.

Melanie turned to him, one well manicured hand raising up to her cheek, her pleasant expressions peeling away to reveal the ugliness inside of her. She thrust her cup at him, drenching him in the wine, causing him to give a surprised step back, then lifted a hand.

Kit went flying backwards and hit the next wall with a soft cry, landing in a heap on the ground. He struggled to stand.

“Hit me…?” she growled, “No mortal can raise a hand to me and live.”

Rose was at Kit’s side, helping him stand.

“Enough, Melanie!” she shouted, “He’s just a boy!”

“Then he shouldn’t be here,” Melanie replied as she stood.

Kit managed to make it to his feet, glaring at Melanie still. Melanie’s eyes fell on him and her expression became even angrier.

“Why are you looking at me like that?!” she hissed.

“Because you’re a monster,” he growled back.

Melanie lifted her hand again, Rose giving a small cry as she was suddenly thrown away from Kit. The demi-goddess stormed over to Kit, grabbing him by the throat and sliding him up the wall until he was dangling above the floor.

Kit struggled and clawed at her hand, but she was shockingly strong.

“To think, you once scared me,” Melanie smirked, “Now look at what you are. You are nothing.”

Kit drew his knee to his chest and kicked, hitting Melanie squarely in the face, sending her wheeling backwards. Kit landed on hands and knees, coughing.

Melanie gasped as she saw blood on her hands as she pulled them back from cupping her nose.

“You keep underestimating me,” Kit said, “What’s the matter? Never had someone not afraid of you before? Because I’m not scared.” He stood up. “Why would I be, when I know that I’m going to win?”

Melanie walked over and backhanded him.

“Stop talking,” she growled.

“Maybe you are better than the people you control,” Kit growled, standing up again, “But why would you ever assume you’re stronger than fate? Did you think that there would never be consequences to your actions?!”

Melanie moved to hit him again but her wrist was caught by Rose, who shoved her backwards.

“Haven’t you figured it out, Melanie?” Rose asked, “This is the end. You’re done.”

“Did you think that would make me just give up?” she asked with a smirk, blood running from her nose and down her perfect face. “I’ve decided to end it here.”

She snapped her fingers and both she and Kit appeared in the center of the room. She grabbed him by the shoulders before he could orient himself and pulled him into a rough kiss.

“A goodbye token,” she whispered. With that, she sent a wave of power coursing through Kit’s body.

Kit screamed. It was like all the energy was forcefully being cut, piece by piece from his body. The pain was overwhelming and he was weakenng with each second, which felt like a minute to him.

Rose cried out and ran towards them, but Melanie shoved her back.

“You see, Traveler?!” she growled, “You’re nothing! You’re just a human! I’m so much better than you!”

She released Kit and he fell onto the pillows at their feet. He couldn’t move. He was trying but his body refused to work. He was numb all over and his mind was swinging back and forth from being unconscious to conscious.

“Still alive?” Melanie asked, intrigued.

“Melanie!” Rose shouted and charged with her scythe. Melanie was taken offguard, turning and barely avoiding the deadly blade.

“Marie, learn your place!” she shouted, tossing her back, Rose smacking into the wall next to the door.

Melanie turned back to Kit, who was struggling to get away, but could only manage to squirm slightly.

This wasn’t supposed to be the way it happened. He was supposed to be able to win. Wasn’t he destined to win?

And yet, he was about to die without taking Melanie with him.

“Melanie!” Rose screamed.

Melanie smiled and pointed a finger at Kit.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang and Jinn skidded into the room, barely able to stop, teettering on one foot for a moment before looking around.

“… Who are you?” Melanie asked.

Jinn spotted Kit and then Rose, who stood with some effort. He stood up straight, his mind racing as to what he should do.

“What’s that?!” he said, pointing to the far wall. Melanie just gave him a flat stare.

“Do I look stupid to you?” she asked.

“Well, to be honest…”

Melanie growled and made a fist, glancing at Kit but deciding it could wait. She was suddenly right in front of Jinn, swiping at him with her fingernails.

Jinn ducked and flipped away, crouching.

“Jinn…” Rose said.

“I swear, you people can’t do shit without me,” Jinns aid, smiling at her but glancing anxiously at Kit.

Melanie lifted a hand and tried to push Jinn back, but he raised his own hands, striking at her force with an only slightly less powerful one, causing it to lose momentum and only knock him back a few steps.

He then ducked and ran towards her, forming a fist, aiming to hit her across the face.

Melanie hissed and caught his fist in one hand, squeezing and causing him to yelp and fall to one knee.

“Strong chicks are so unsexy,” Jinn growled.

“Only someone insecure in his masculinity would say something like that,” she smirked.

Jinn snatched his fist away from her and jumped back, rubbing his knuckles. “Trust me, I’m secure,” he said, “Secure enough to fuck boys.”

Melanie snorted. “What is your relation to my little pest, the Traveler?” she asked.

Jinn fell silent and realized that the mistake was in that.

“I see,” she smiled, “Then I suppose crushing the enemies will to fight is one of the most important things one can do.”

“Stay away from him!” Jinn screamed.

Melanie appeared next to Kit, reaching over to one of the platters of food, drawing a long knife. Jinn growled but didn’t dare move with the knife pressed against Kit’s temple.

“Jinn…” Rose said quietly.

“Rose, not now…” Jinn whispered.

“No, Jinn,” Rose said a little louder, “Listen—“

“I said not now!” Jinn shouted at her.

“Your fucking tail’s gone!” she shouted back.

Jinn paused, looking at her, then looked at Melanie. Melanie smirked and lifted the blade, preparing to drive it into the blonde boy’s temple.

Jinn took one step forward before closing his eyes.

IDIO!! his mind screamed as loud as it could.

“Say goodbye, elf,” Melanie said, then swiftly began to drive the knife downward.

Suddenly, someone gently caught her wrist and knelt down next to her.

“Excuse me,” the man said, “What’s going on here?”

He was tall and lanky, but muscled despite that. He had a soft, childish face with beautiful blue-ish green eyes. Soft black hair covered his face, lifted from his eyes by a desaturated blue headband.

“Y-you… you’re…” Melanie stuttered.

“Idio…” Jinn said, falling to his knees.

“Well, someone tell me what’s going on,” Idio frowned, “You’re lucky I wasn’t working, Jinn.”

“Let go!” Melanie screamed, struggling to free herself from Idio’s grip, but it was impossibly tight.

“Were you going to kill this boy?” Idio asked the woman.

“Yes!” she spat, “And the elf and the woman over there! I don’t see how it’s any of your—“

Before she could finish the sentence, Idio released her wrist and reached up, shoving her head until there was a loud snap of her neck breaking, killing her instantly.

Rose looked away but said nothing.

Jinn scrambled to his feet and ran forward, tackling Idio in a tight hug. Idio gave a cry of surprise and fell down.

“Jinn, I haven’t seen you in half a century,” Idio said with a small smile, “Where have you been? You are going to explain this, right?”

Jinn tried to speak but he was suddenly choking on tears.

“Jinn?” Idio’s eyes went wide, “Are you okay? Talk to me…”

“I’m just…” Jinn gasped out, “I’m so glad to see you…”

Rose walked over and lifted Kit by his shoulders. “I suppose Kit didn’t have to do anything but be here,” she said, “By trapping you in that card, he made your tail disappear. And by doing that, he made it so you could call on this man and he would destroy Melanie.”

“Huh?” Idio sighed, confused.

Jinn suddenly pulled away from Idio and crawled to Kit.

“Wake up, Kit,” he whispered.

Kit opened his eyes and smiled at Jinn. “So I didn’t die?” he asked.

“No, you’re alive,” Jinn said, wiping at his tears.

“I love you,” Kit whispered, closing his eyes again.

“I love you, too,” Jinn replied.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Idio said, “Love?! What’s this about love?!” He appeared next to Jinn. “Does he know how many illegitimate kids you have? How many lovers?! Are you just toying with this poor kid?! I always knew this would happen when you started acting like a little slut!”

“Idio…” Jinn blushed, “Shut up.”

“Does he know that you’ve been the bad guy nearly as often as you’ve been the hero?” Idio asked, “Or the way you tend to piss off the Gods?”

“Shut up!” Jinn shouted.

“I’m just making sure he’s got all the facts before he’s going around saying he loves you, is all!” Idio pointed out.

Jinn started to say something but sighed, looking exhausted.

“Let’s just… relax awhile, all right, Idio?” he asked.

“Sure,” he smiled, pulling Jinn into a one armed hug, “I missed you, buddy.”

“I missed you more than you’ll ever know,” Jinn said.

~:~

Idio helped Gate and Holy destroy the last of Melanie’s followers and begin to restore the world to the way it was. Branret and Dalune said goodbye and headed back to the desert and to Branret’s home.

“I’ll miss you,” he told Kit.

“Same,” Kit said, “I’ll come visit, okay?”

Branret nodded just before Jinn teleported them home.

Idio and Gate worked closely together to weed out and destroy anyone who still threatened Aradon. It didn’t take long with Idio’s amazing powers. Kit was in awe.

However, he was even more surprised by Jinn’s powers when he had all of them. He and Idio were close in their power level.

Rose stayed around a little longer before simply disappearing. They assumed she went home, wherever that was. No one was really disappointed that she hadn’t said goodbye. It fit her somehow.

Kit and Holy got stuck with fixing the castle back to the way it was, being assigned a hefty cleaning crew. It took awhile, but things were repaired.

Even in the few days that they spent fixing up the place, there were workers rebuilding the city around the Flying Palace. All the food from the Palace was taken and distributed to the people. The farmers were allowed to sell their best crops to the people again and it wasn’t long before the economy was settling back to something reasonable.

It took two weeks to get all this started. In that time, Idio and Gate had managed to dispose of all of Melanie’s followers, or capture them in the least.

“Now, the only thing to do,” Idio sighed, “Is appoint someone trustworthy as the king of this place.”

“I’ll do it!” Jinn crowed.

“Yeah, right,” Idio said, “We don’t want another Melanie.”

Jinn huffed and Kit gave him a small kiss for his troubles.

“Almost every leader was killed,” Gate told him, “That’s a hard choice.”

“Not every leader,” Idio said, glancing at Gate, “How do you feel about the title of King Gate?”

Holy squeeled. “My king!” he said, wrapping his arms around his neck.

“Doesn’t that make you my queen?” he asked the blue-haired boy, who frowned up at him and released him.

“That’s my choice,” Idio said.

“I can’t do that,” Gate shook his head, “I worked for Melanie…”

“You’re one of the main reasons that she’s not only gone, but so are her followers,” Idio said, “The people already trust you.”

“They’d rather have you,” Gate remarked.

“Of course,” Idio said, “I’m the Great Guardian. I’m supposedly the ultimate leader.” He snorted as though that was a joke. “Look, I choose you and you don’t get a choice. Be king. Now.”

Gate smiled slightly. “Fine, but if I screw up, it’s your fault,” he said.

“Deal,” Idio replied, “I need to get back. The Guardianship is starting to wonder. Jinn, I assume you’re coming with me for a little while? Just until you and Kit find a place to settle down.”

“Yeah, we’ll catch up,” Jinn nodded.

Idio nodded and disappeared.

Kit turned to gate and Holy, but suddenly Holy had his arms around his neck.

“You have to come visit us!” Holy said.

“Of course,” Kit smiled.

“We’re all enternally grateful to you, Kit,” Gate said.

“In the end, I didn’t really do anything,” Kit gave a feeble smile.

“More than you’ll ever realize,” Holy said, kissing him on the cheek and suddenly being pulled back by Gate possessively.

“Bye, Gate, thanks for all your help,” Jinn said, “Take good care of this place. I’ll be checking in every now and then.”

Gate nodded.

“And Holy…” Jinn glanced at Kit and walked over, “Before I submit myself into the world of commitment, I want one last fling.” With that he wrapped his arms around Holy’s waist and dipped him down, kissing him.

It took two full seconds for Kit and Gate to both start yelling at them to stop.

Jinn released Holy, who stumbled back a few steps, holding his hat on his head in surprise.

“Gl-glad to oblige,” he said.

Gate glared at Jinn. “Never expect me to let you do that again,” Gate said.

“Understood,” Jinn said. Kit was trying to beat him up but failing miserably at it as he slammed his fists into Jinn’s chest. “Goodbye everyone.”

Gate and Holy waved and Jinn wrapped his arms around Kit, the two of them disappearing and reappearing in Idio’s house. Idio was nowhere to be seen.

“Ready for the rest of our lives?” Jinn asked.

“If you’ll stop kissing other boys,” Kit glared.

“What about the girls?” Jinn asked.

Kit pulled away from him.

“Kidding, kidding!” Jinn whined, “Kiiiiiit!”

Kit sighed. “Okay, okay,” he said, “So… What now?”

“I don’t know. I say we sleep for a week and find a new adventure,” Jinn suggested.

“Deal,” Kit said and kissed him. Jinn smiled, kissing him back. He supposed love didn’t end up being so bad. Especially when you got to keep it. Especially if he got to spend all day with Kit for several years to come.

Besides… they were totally going to do it on Idio’s couch.

What could be better than that?