Chaos & Order

Chapter 28

Back in the castle, Aliyah was in her father's study, sitting on the sofa. She hugged her knees to her chest and buried her face into her knees. First Fang, now Siel. Both of her guardians were gone. And that left her just feeling...lost, drowning in grief.

Celestia stood nearby, frowning as she felt helpless. Xavier sat in his chair, having been told what happened. With a sigh, he spoke up, "I...know how this sounds, but I am sorry about your loss, Aliyah. And I know what it is like...losing the one you care most about."

"Aliyah, I-" Celestia started, reaching out to her daughter.

"Leave me alone..." Aliyah said. Celestia stopped and slowly pulled her hand away.

"We should leave her for now." Xavier said. Celestia nodded before leaving the study. Before leaving, Xavier told Aliyah, "You're not alone, my daughter..."

He then softly closed the door behind him, but caught the sound of her weeping as they left. Out in the hall, Celestia stood near the window with her arms folded. Soon, Lilith and Domiel walked up to them.

"How is she?" Lilith asked. Celestia shook her head.

"As well as could be expected." Xavier said.

"Are you returning, Dome?" Celestia asked as she wiped her eyes.

"I think I'll stay a while, actually." Domiel said, "She needs a guardian and Siel would have wanted to have someone protecting her."

"I'd appreciate that..." Celestia said with a small smile. She then heard a distant 'whooshing' sound.

"She just went out the window, didn't she?" Lilith asked. The Queen nodded. "Should I...?"

"No....I already know where she's going." Celestia said, shaking her head.

"We all do." Xavier nodded.

"And, if she's in danger, I'll be there." Domiel said.

Outside, Aliyah flew through the sky. She needed to get out, get away from everything. And she only had one place she could go to--the secret place. When she reached it, she landed so roughly that she tumbled and rolled around. With a heavy heart and eyes red from crying, she staggered up and looked around.

"Siel...please...come to me..." she whispered. After not getting a response, she rose her voice as she called out in sorrow, "Please!"

"I never left." Came a faint, but familiar voice.

Aliyah froze before looking around, "Siel...?"

There was nothing around her, just that old, familiar, comforting voice, "My wings are now yours. Even if you can't see me...I'll always be with you. Forever."

"Siel...why? I didn't want this..." Aliyah wept.

"I didn't want this, either..."

"Then why...?"

"What else could I do? There was no other way. Your life had gone...that was the last thing I could do."

"I told you I would never ask you to do that! You should've just...."

"Leave you dead? Would that seem like something I would do?"

Aliyah fell to her knees, knowing he was right. But she still wept, "I wanted you here."

After silence, the voice said something, "You know, there's one thing that I never got around to teaching you."

"What?"

"Hold out your hand." Aliyah sniffled as she did was she was told, "Think of what it was like when I was there."

Aliyah hesitated for a second before closing her eyes. A golden light radiated from her open hand. She opened her eyes, looking in wonder.

"This is an aura, the magic power used by angels. You can shape it and mold it to what you want. It depends on the path you pick. A Guardian's aura is more defensive, a Soldier's aura is made to attack."

"What about bringing someone back...?" Aliyah asked, weakly.

"That is beyond your power...but there's something close. Focus on what you want."
Aliyah stood, doing what he said as she closed her eyes again, "Open your eyes."

Aliyah slowly opens her eyes before looking in front of her and her eyes widened. Siel stood before her, made entirely of the same glowing, golden aura she called forth. Tears flowed as Aliyah reached out to touch him. It felt real, but at the same time...ethereal. The Siel reached up and felt her hand.

"Aura...it forms what you imagine. Is this...passable?"

Aliyah entwined her fingers with his before looking at him. "Don't have a choice...."

"This is the best I can do for you." Siel said, cupping her cheek in his ethereal hand.

Aliyah leaned into his hand, putting her hand over it, "Siel...is there a way to...bring you back...? Physically...?"

"I don't know."

Aliyah grippedd his hand, looking at him again. This time, her eyes filled with determination instead of tears, "Then...I'll find a way. Even if I have to do it alone..."

"Until then...remember the night I pretended to be your suitor?"

"Of course, it's...hard to forget...." Aliyah said with a small smile.

"Would you wish to dance?"

Aliyah looked at him as new tears formed, but smiled, "Yes."

"Then..."

With that, Siel took her hand and began leading her. Aliyah follows his lead, dancing with him in the secret field of flowers. Siel held onto her hips as they danced to the symphony of a small breeze and a rippling pond.

What neither saw, though, were the familiar forms of Lilith, Domiel, and Boogeyman watching them--the witch sat in a tree, the angel leaned against the trunk, and Boogeyman was half-submerged in shadow. While Celestia and Xavier were content to let their daughter sulk and mourn, they decided to follow after her. Danger seemed to follow that princess wherever she went, after all. And they overheard everything. Though it wouldn't show on Domiel's face, they were excited by the prospect of adventure...the first time the three would embark on one in years.

"If she thinks she's doing it alone, she's got another thing coming." Lilith smiled, "Ready for another adventure you two?"

"You think I'll say 'no'?" Boogeyman asked, eagerly.

"What a pain." Domiel murmured. Both of his friends knew that was as good as a 'yes'.

"Well then..." she smiled, looking over her shoulder and winking, "We're not done just yet. So just you wait."

"Who're you talking to?" Domiel asked.

"Who cares? It's not important." Boogeyman said.

All the while, Aliyah danced with the facsimile of her guardian angel. It wasn't the same as having the real Soterasiel, but she didn't care. In that beautiful moment, Aliyah was happy.