The Legend of The Headless Horseman

[Oerba Yun Fang [The Desperado]]

The Legend Of The Headless Horseman

"Come closer," the elder beckons you to his side at the roaring fire. The man, a Pulsian, seems to be not only frail but covered in wrinkles which is the only testament to his age. He leans in closer, the light of the fire lapping at his face. "Have you come to here the tales of the Headless Horseman?" He asks. Then he shakes his head. "No, of course you did. All you youngin's do. Now how did it start... Ah yes! Eons ago, long before the devil's paradise of Cocoon casted it's shadow on us, and when the great Jungles of Pulse where naught but weeds there existed two forces. They're power escapes our grasps, they were the rulers of all. Light, as you could call it demanded power over the sun and all that bathed in it's light. Opposed to it was Darkness, the shadows them selves and all that hid in it found a home in Darkness's domain. The forces, natural opposites, waged a great war. Mountains were razed in the wake of their battles, and oceans were created from Light's tears for the fallen. The little life that graced Gran Pulse fled from the sight of their great struggles."

Then suddenly the man raised one finger into the air, a tone of pure excitement entering his voice. "After a century of war Light gave birth too two sons. The twins, Odin and Vé, were to be the slayers of Darkness. All before them crumbled to dust. Time and time again the brothers beat back the Darkness, yet Darkness would not be defeated so easily. But lo! The Darkness, it settled within the heart of one of the brothers. Light, she was as much to blame for Vé's fall. She favored one of her sons, Odin, far more then the other. She loved Odin oh so much, and the jealously, the rage, is what allowed Darkness to find it's way into Vé's heart."

"Vé could feel the Darkness seeping into his heart, it was a heavy unbearable feeling. Yet he was far too proud to tell either his brother or the Light. He thought that he could defeat it on his own. Yet when Light gave Odin the Zantetsuken, a blade forged in the very heart of Light herself that is said to fell all it's foes in one hit. Upon witnessing Odin recieve a gift that befitted the Gods themselves, Vé allowed his jealous and rage to fully take over, he thought it was his right to wield Zantestuken! So the brother allowed Darkness to whisper into his ear, and place thoughts of murder in his head. Late one night, when Vé could no longer sedate the blood hungry murder that the Darkness craved, he sneaked into Odin's bed chambers. With a dagger held high he apologized to his brother, before thrusting it downwards. Intending to cut his elder brother from limb to limb, and seal each one within a magical box, for death had yet to plagued Gran Pulse."

"Yet Vé's own foolishness showed once again, he attempted to kill his brother in the realm of Light! The Goddess rushed to the side of Odin, protecting the man with her own essence. Hissing in rage Light threw herself at Vé, intending to make him the first to die. Yet he managed to escape, forever sealing his alliance with the Darkness. From that day the two brothers wagged a war, it was said that in each battle a tear would roll down Odin's face. As he could not bear to harm his brother."

"Vé, now fully embracing the Darkness, used his brother's love to his own advantage. In the dead of night he sneaked into his Brother's stables. Vé laughed manically to himself, as he tore the young child of Sleipnir away as it suckled from it's mothers teat. The next morning Odin howled in rage, his own steed's son was stolen! And no less by his own brother, whom he loved with all his heart. Only moments later Odin caught wind of his brother in battle. Grabbing the reigns of his might eight legged horse he rode off into battle. What Odin saw in the battle brought horror to the man's heart. Vé had used his own powers of corruption, a gift from Darkness, to twist the young foal into an unholy beast of bones and rotting flesh. Never again was the young child able to feel the warm embrace of it's Mother, nor charge into battle along side his brave Father. It was doomed to a life of eternal suffering."

"Odin rose Zantetsuken into the air, and with one swing of his blade lopped his brother's head off. Vé screamed out in pain, forever doomed to feel the pain of his own decapitation. Odin, pure of heart, took pity upon his brother despite Vé's own wicked deeds. So Odin charged into the heart of Darkness itself, and stole from it a small clay jar. Upon returning to the field of battle Odin discovered Vé's head still rolling about the ground, being trampled upon as he moaned out in agony. The Warrior of the Light handed the clay jar to Vé and said; "Drink of it for it contains the essence of death itself. Once it has taken you into it's embrace, you shall never feel pain of your own lose again." Vé simply looked up at his brother, rose the clay jar up into the air with his still animated body and with a curse aimed at his brother he tossed it upon the ground. The jar shattered, and essence of death spread through out all of Gran Pulse. Thus cursing all things to die.

"Odin, unable to help his brother any more nor able to forgive for bring death to all things, grabbed both Vé's body and his demonic steed and tossed them into the bowels of Darkness itself. Forever to be imprisoned within their master's cold and twisted grasps. Or so he thought. Centuries later when the first humans walked the surface of Gran Pulse, Vé made his return. An elderly housewife was taking care of her laundry when Vé rode up to her. His wicked laugh escape the stump of his throat, and promised her a swift death. The woman shrieked and ran into the village, warning them of the Headless Horseman. They did not believe her, until he rode into town. His twisted blade putting an end to their lives and screams of horror. Odin was appalled by his own brother's heinous actions, charged into the village only to find the villagers dead and his brother gone. So Odin had no choice but to return to his palace in the skies empty handed. So from that year on the Headless Horseman returned on the day were the boundaries of Light and Darkness wavered, for one night he would be the harbinger of death. He would be the Headless Horseman, and nothing would stop him from getting his revenge on Odin. Not even the cold embrace of death. But my friends, I leave you with a warning. Tonight is the night that the Headless Horseman rides!

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