Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ An Alternate Ending ❯ LR Town ( Chapter 3 )

An Alternate Ending

Part Three: LR Town

By Bekka Mouri

(Trigun doesn't belong to me and I am not making any money off of this so please don't sue. The heavy borrowing and butchering of the end of the series continues! Spoilers galore of course!)

Wolfwood groaned and Milly got to her feet. She had been sitting next to his side since Vash had brought him in, waiting for him to wake up. She had slept in the floor with her head resting on the side of the bed once night had fallen. It wasn't the most comfortable way to sleep but she didn't want to leave him, not for a moment.

" Nicholas? " She whispered, brushing his bangs from his face.

He opened his eyes slowly and blinked. " Honey? What are you doing here? "

" I've been waiting for you to wake up, " Milly looked towards the window. " Mr. Vash brought you here before he left. Meryl said he didn't want us to go along. "

" You mean I'm not dead? " Wolfwood moved to sit up but winced in pain. " I thought I was a goner for sure. "

" Meryl said that Mr. Vash did something to you but she didn't tell me anything else. She said she had to think about some things but we had to go after him, " Milly looked at Wolfwood. " I don't know how we're going to find him though… we don't know where he went. "

" But I do, " Wolfwood whispered. " I agree with Meryl. We need to go after him and make sure he makes it through but we can't get in the way once he reaches his goal. "

" What are you talking about? " Milly's eyes got big for Wolfwood's words shocked her.

" I'll explain later but you just need to go get Meryl. We need to get out of here as soon as possible. "

" But the suns aren't even up yet… " Milly motioned to the window. " And you're still hurt! Your wounds may not be as bad as you thought but Mr. Vash said you lost a lot of blood. "

" I don't care! Get Meryl and get ready to leave! " Wolfwood shouted the best he could manage.

Milly grabbed her stun gun, " No way! I don't want you to get hurt anymore! "

" Don't point that thing at me! This is a matter of life and death! "

Milly lowered the gun, " Who's? "

" Everyone on this damn planet, that's who! Now, " Wolfwood forced himself up in a sitting position and hissed in pain. He put a hand to his forehead as the room started to spin because he had sat up too fast.

Milly put the gun back down on the floor. " What hurts, Nicholas? "

" I feel like someone used me for a kickball and then let a sand steamer run over me, " Wolfwood muttered. " But that doesn't matter! Go get Meryl or I'll go get her myself! "

Milly took a couple of steps backwards before turning and running out the door…

**

The streets were alive with activity and the sounds of everyday life. How long had it been since he saw people besides… them? ~Too long… ~ He thought, scanning the street for the source of the heavenly aroma that was tickling his nose. His eyes settled on the stand that had sign that seemed to scream 'Donuts' right at him and he smiled… he hadn't had good donuts since the night before the Kebas incident.

~She is such a good cook, ~ He thought as Meryl's smiling face appeared in his mind. Her tear stained one; the way she looked after he had finished telling her the truth, quickly replaced it. She begged him to let them come along but he forbid it… not with Wolfwood in the shape he was in. He stood stone still as he recalled the last time he had seen her…

(Flashback)

She stood in the street in nothing but her nightshirt, her head tilted up to look him in the face but he refused to meet her eyes. Her hands were limp at her sides and her face was red from crying. " That's all of it. Just let me leave now, " He turned to the door, " It will take both of you to care for Wolfwood. "

" I thought you said he was healed, " Meryl whispered.

" I couldn't replace the blood he lost, " Vash didn't look back at her. " He'll be weak until his body makes up for what he lost. Please, just let me go. I have to handle this on my own. "

" Vash… " She whispered.

" Yes? " He still didn't look at her. He knew if he looked at her face, he would want to scoop her up into his arms and hold her. He couldn't do that though… he couldn't get attached to her for everyone he got attached to ended up dying.

" Please be careful, " She said before sobbing and running back to where Wolfwood was.

(End Flashback)

He pushed back the tears that had started to form and squared his shoulders as he approached the donut stand. An older lady was working it but didn't notice him walk up. " Hey, grandma! " He said, turning the charm on full blast. She ignored him so he tried again, " Excuse me, young lady… I would like to buy some donuts. "

The woman turned and smiled, " Sure! What will it be? "

" Give me thirty double-dollars worth and make them fresh. I don't want any day old ones, " Vash smiled.

" Sure! Sure! No problem! " The lady looked over her shoulder and smiled.

A few minutes later, Vash found a bench and sat down with his warm bag of donuts. He smiled and took one from the bag, sniffing it. ~There's nothing like fresh donuts, ~ He thought to himself and took a bite as he shut his eyes. He felt like his soul was soaring towards heaven as the sweet confection's taste filled his mouth, the world around him vanishing and becoming silent as savored the flavor.

He chewed and swallowed, opening his eyes. The bag tumbled from his arm and the donut he had just taken a bite from fell to the ground as he looked out across a sea of scattered lifeless bodies in front of him. A sharp sensation invaded his mind, the same cold sensation he got when… when HE was close by. " I wanted to give you my condolences over the death of your friend Nicholas D. Wolfwood… how did I do? "

Vash whipped around and found Legato Bluesummers standing behind him. He narrowed his eyes and reached for his gun, " You bastard! What did you do to these people? "

" I just wanted to show you what this town would look like when you are finished with it, Vash The Stampede. Do you want to end another life to add to the hundreds that will die because of you? " Legato's only visible eye focused on Vash's gun. He smiled when he noticed Vash was hesitating.

" You can't draw, can you? You seem to think you have never killed anyone just because you didn't pull the trigger but I can see an ocean of blood surrounding you. It runs so deep, you can barely keep your head above it and you struggle not to be pulled under by the undertow every single day, " Legato said, his voice even and quiet.

" I never killed anyone! " Vash shouted.

" The Gung-Ho Guns died because of you… even your friend Nicholas D. Wolfwood is nothing but a corpse because of you. If hadn't swayed him with your foolish ideals, he would still be alive. You killed them all, " Legato smiled.

Vash tried to block any thought of Wolfwood being alive because he knew that Legato could read him. He was under the impression Wolfwood was dead and Vash wanted to leave it that way. He didn't want to endanger him or the girls any more than he already had. He just hoped they had heeded his words and stayed put.

" I just defeated them! I never killed them! " Vash shook his head. " If anyone is responsible for those deaths, it's you! You sent them after me! "

Legato chuckled, " Oh no. I think you know who sent them and it is not I. You may shoot me now if it will make you feel better. Go ahead and draw. "

Vash's hand moved to the butt of the gun but stopped. He couldn't put out a single flame of life… it was the last promise he had made to her before all hell broke loose on the ship. Legato chuckled again, " That's what I thought. It funny the way I can feel it when you hesitate… my left arm shakes uncontrollably. "

Vash didn't know what Legato was getting at but he continued, " You see, this arm is the one that used to be attached to your body. "

Vash grabbed the gun and aimed it, " Shut up! That's insane! "

" Then shoot me right here, " Legato shouted. He waited as Vash tried to hold the gun steady but he couldn't. " I see. I will be waiting for you on that hill, Vash The Stampede… someone will die today but it will be your choice who it is. "

Vash watched as Legato walked away, heading for the hill he had spoke of. It was almost a mountain and overlooked LR Town. He watched Legato until he was no longer visible before he heard one of the townspeople groan as they regain consciousness. " What the hell happened? " It was a man who asked the question.

" I don't know. My head feels really funny, " Another man replied.

" How can you play with people's lives like this? I cannot allow this to continue, " Vash said out loud. " There's no telling how far you will go… "

" The question is how far will you let this go, " A man said and Vash turned to face the direction the voice came from. His eyes settled on a man wearing a dark plum colored suit and a pink dress shirt. He had a saxophone in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other. " You play with people's lives as well. "

He walked along the porch of the bar he was in front on, setting his glass down once he finished it. He continued to speak, " You are the man who destroyed July and Augusta, putting millions out of their homes. You put the hole in the fifth moon… you are a monster and the both of you are of the same breed. "

" Who are you? " Vash growled through clenched teeth as people stared speechlessly at the exchange.

The man stepped down to the street, " I'm the 11th Gung-Ho Gun, Midvalley The Hornfreak. I play the greatest music on the greatest stage in the world. Do you care to join me in a number, Vash The Stampede? "

" Vash? " A man shouted in surprise.

" Vash The Stampede? " Another man cried. " Let's get the hell out of here! "

The people ran and screamed, fearing for their lives. In a matter of moments, Midvalley and Vash seemed to be the only two people in the street. With no innocent by-standers, Vash took aim and fired at Midvalley, intending only to wound him. Midvalley put his lips to the mouthpiece of the saxophone and start to play as soon as Vash's finger squeezed the trigger, his music sending the bullet away.

The ground rumbled and Vash felt a great pressure pushing at him. He couldn't fight it, the force sending him into the wall building behind him. Vash looked at Midvalley as he tried to gather his wits, ~What is he doing? ~ Vash thought.

Midvalley stopped for a second to smile before playing again. Vash jumped to his feet and headed for low brick wall for protection as the ground started shaking while Midvalley played. ~Has he found some way to synchronize pain and sound waves? ~ Vash thought as he dashed towards another building for cover.

A great cloud of dust rose up, hiding the saxophone player from Vash's sight. ~I can't see him so there's no way he can see me! Now's my chance! ~ He thought, dashing forward and taking aim with his gun. He cried out as a piece of concrete ripped across his face as Midvalley changed to another note, probably directing the concrete with the sound waves.

Midvalley stopped playing and looked down at his saxophone, " My. Sylvia is responding nicely today, " He looked at Vash, " Do you know that the sounds produced by a famous instrument can actually sound rather flat to the person playing that instrument? "

Vash held the sleeve of his coat over his bleeding cheek, ~I better be careful or the sound of that saxophone won't be the only thing that is flat. ~

Midvalley continued, " Only you can hear my greatest sound and I believe a beautiful melody deserves applause. A great performance deserves shouts of joy. "

" Why don't you just finish me now? " Vash said, standing to his feet. There was no way he could defeat Midvalley as long as he still had the saxophone. He had to do something to get it out of his hands or disable it but Midvalley was too quick and could counter any move Vash could imagine making. " You could have killed me easily by now. "

" It's simple. I'm under his orders, " Midvalley said.

" Knives… " Vash whispered.

" I can't go against him. Those who serve him have no free thought or rights. What he says goes and that is the end of it, " Midvalley sounded as serious as death as he spoke.

" No! You're wrong! You have rights! " Vash shouted, starting towards him.

" Is that the mercy of a superior being? " Midvalley countered.

Vash didn't have time to answer when he heard a man shouting that he couldn't control himself. Vash looked to see one of the townspeople coming towards the fight, scared shitless. " Help! I don't know what I'm doing! Help! " He cried as he came closer.

" Legato… " Vash narrowed his eyes. He could recognize the telekinetic's work from a mile away… he had seen it enough times to know. Midvalley smiled again and started playing. Vash gasped and ran for the innocent man, " No! Don't! " He shouted at Midvalley.

The rumble started again and Vash threw himself in front of the villager before the shockwave could hit him. It hit Vash instead but he stood his ground, refusing to be knocked over when it hit and swallowed the cry of pain that rose up when the force slammed into him. Midvalley narrowed his eyes, obviously displeased with Vash's action. Another villager was being forced toward the fight but he was further away than the first had been.

~I'm really going to have to bust my ass to save this one! ~ Vash thought to himself as he ran for that man. Vash was still in mid-air when the wave hit but it was weaker. Either Midvalley was trying to keep from killing Vash or he was starting to tire out. Vash fell to the ground, the shock of the hard pavement radiating through his body.

He barely had time to regain his senses when he heard another man scream. He forced himself to his feet, heading for that man. He limped as he ran, the shock of hitting the ground being too much even for his knee guards but he would not stop until he got to the town person. He was thrust towards the man as the shockwave hit him… if he had been any slower, the man would have been dead.

Midvalley stopped playing, sweat dripping down his face and he looked like he was getting angry. Vash got to his feet, wondering how much longer Midvalley could go on… and how much longer he could go on as well.

**

" Keep going, " Wolfwood called from the back of the wagon, his voice sounding like he was thinking about something else. Milly had found one not too far from the house where she and Meryl had been staying. They hooked up the Thomases to it and loaded it up with all of their belongings. They were very close to the first town that hadn't been affected by the mass disappearances and was the most likely place for Vash to be.

Wolfwood looked down at what he held in his hand, still in awe of it…

(Flashback)

Milly had to gone to the church to retrieve the cross and had returned with something wrapped in a handkerchief. Wolfwood had been puzzled when he saw the small package in her trembling hands. She shoved it towards him, only saying, " Here, I found these. "

He unwrapped it and looked at her. " These… these look like… "

Milly was shaking as she tried not to look at the contents. Meryl walked over to look at it and gasped. " Oh God! Those look like bloody bones! "

" Not just any bones, " Wolfwood muttered, running his hand up his left side… where the pain was the worst. About 2/3 of the way up, just below his armpit, he felt a space much wider than the other spaces between his ribs… like there was one missing. " I'll be damned… "

" What is it, Mr. Wolfwood? " Meryl asked.

" It's one of my ribs, " Wolfwood said quietly.

(Flashback over)

" If we run into trouble, please be careful… " Meryl glanced over her shoulder to Wolfwood. He was sitting on the mattress from the room he had been in because Meryl insisted him having something to lay on besides the hard floor of the wagon. It also helped in keeping the bumps in the road from jarring him too much and that was a good thing since he was still in pain.

" Huh? Oh yeah, " Wolfwood looked up from the pieces of bone in his hand. Why had Vash pulled it out? Had there been a reason?

Meryl seemed lost in thought when he looked up at her, the reins for her Thomas clutched loosely in her hands. Milly leaned over and whispered something to her. Meryl sighed, looking over her shoulder at Wolfwood briefly, " He said it was important that we find Vash. "

Milly nudged Meryl in the ribs and said something else that made her smile but made Meryl blush. Meryl's eyes went wide, " I do not! I'm just doing this because Mr. Wolfwood said it was vital! "

Wolfwood smiled as Milly cast a quick glance his way before settling her eyes back on the road. Wolfwood decided to move closer to her and got up to do so when the wagon stopped suddenly, causing him to fall forward. " What the hell is wrong? " He said as he rubbed his forehead because it had hit the wagon rather hard.

" There's a man laying in the road, " Meryl said. " Excuse me, sir? Are you okay? Do you need water? "

Wolfwood heard Meryl gasp as the man got to his feet, instantly familiar with the vacant look in his eyes. Milly looked over her shoulder at Wolfwood and mouthed, " Lay down! " to him. He hit the mattress mere seconds before another man roughly pulled Milly down from her seat. He heard the girls objecting to being captured and the sounds of a crowd, their voices becoming fainter until he could no longer hear them.

He forced himself to his feet when he thought it was safe and crawled into the front seat of the wagon, grabbing up the reins. The Thomases jerked and moved forward…

**

Vash was lying on the ground, quivering in pain for his body had been battered by Midvalley's playing. Midvalley came closer and pushed his foot under Vash's chin. He smiled, " I commend your dedication. It's very admirable. "

Vash lifted his gun arm, it transforming in a matter of seconds but Midvalley stepped on it before he had a chance to use it. " Oh no… it's not over yet. The show must go on, " He smiled, putting the mouthpiece of the saxophone back to his lips.

It didn't take a rocket scientist to know what Midvalley had in mind and Vash shouted, " STOP! " Midvalley paid no mind to his futile request as he aimed the saxophone at the three men Legato had control over. Vash growled and fired his gun arm even though Midvalley still stood on it.

Midvalley was unfazed and smirked down at Vash. " You got to be cool… " He said smoothly but didn't have a chance to say anything else because Vash let out another spray of bullets, twisting his arm the best he could. The angle adjustment was just enough for the bullets to ricochet off of other objects. Some of the bullets grazed the saxophone and Midvalley jumped backward, letting Vash up in the process.

Vash got up and aimed his gun arm just past Midvalley. He fired, grazing the saxophone with more ricochet shots but tried not to hit the man at all. Midvalley cringed, obviously shocked that Vash had taken aim at him but got angry when he realized not a single shot hit him. " Don't screw with me! " He snarled.

He shut his eyes as he put the mouthpiece in his mouth and blew as hard as he could but no sounds came out. His eyes flew open, " My B flat! My B flat is gone! "

Vash didn't lower his gun, " The show's over… "

Midvalley narrowed his eyes, " You mean you've been trying for a ricochet shot this entire time? Your target has been Sylvia and not me? "

Vash nodded once, " Yes. "

" It's not time for the curtain call yet… " Midvalley flipped a hidden switch somewhere on the neck of the instrument and it transformed into a gun with eight barrels. Each one moved forward with the exception of one… one that had been jammed by one of Vash's shots. " I have to accept this as my fate… the fate of the dying. "

" No! Don't shoot! If you shoot now… " Vash shouted as Midvalley wrapped his fingers around the trigger. He applied more pressure to the trigger and Vash shouted again, " Don't! No! "

Midvalley laughed at him and pulled the trigger all the way, the saxophone exploding a moment later. Vash could do nothing but watch in horror as a huge cloud of dust and smoke obscured his vision. When it cleared, Midvalley lay on the ground… dead. Vash felt like the whole world was closing in around him and he looked towards the hill Legato had gone to.

He growled as he narrowed his eyes, " Legato… "

**

Legato looked down on LR Town, waiting. The gunfire had ceased and the town was silent. All he needed to do now was wait for Vash because he was certain Midvalley had been defeated. He had heard the sound of something exploding and it was too loud to be anything Vash had with him.

He stared, thoughts creeping into his mind like spiders. ~We should have died a long time ago, you and I… the instant we fell upon this sandy land without pain… without sorrow. Now the schedule has merely been set back… the end is here and we should embrace it. That is why I must… I must end it… I must end it now. ~

He could hear footsteps crunching the tiny pebbles that littered the path and turned, seeing Vash approach. He lifted his left hand… Vash's left hand and started to speak, " This is the climax, Vash The… " His words were cut short as Vash fired, the bullet ripping through a shoulder of Legato's white coat but not hitting any skin.

Vash fired four more times in rapid succession, his bullets ripping his coat more and breaking one of the spikes on his shoulder. Soon, both men were side-by-side, Legato standing calmly as Vash held the gun to his head. Vash was holding the gun sideways as he panted, his anger written across his face. Legato looked at Vash from the corner of his eye, " Do you hate me? "

Legato let silence fall between them, the only thing disturbing it being Vash's infuriated panting before he continued to speak. " I'm not surprised and I don't blame you. You've had so many sad things happen to you. It must hurt to know everyone who comes in contact with you dies no matter if they are friend or foe. "

Legato shut his eyes, " It's enough to sap one's tears… "

" Shut the fuck up, " Vash growled as he pressed the barrel of the gun to the side of Legato's head.

Legato opened his eyes wide, " You know it's not over yet… did you think the end would come so easily? Don't you understand you aren't human? The time has come for you to realize exactly what you are! "

Legato clenched his left fist and the sides took off from the sides of Vash's gun, exposing the core element. The light that frightened Vash started to come from the element, energy arcing around it like lightning. " No! Don't do that! Not the light! "

" Ah! But there's power in that light, Vash! Power you have always had and it represents exactly who you really are! " Legato said forcefully as Vash's flesh became white and started to change into The Angel Arm.

" No! " Vash shouted as his mind was flooded with visions of July and Augusta. He fought those visions away but they were soon replaced by visions of the insurance girls, Lina, Wolfwood and finally Rem. " NO! NOT AGAIN! " He shouted with a gut-wrenching cry, forcing his arm to return to normal.

His legs shook and he fell to his knees in front of Legato, trying to recover from the effort it took to stop The Angel Arm. Legato frowned, " Haven't you given up yet? This is truly annoying. "

A gunshot came from Vash's right side, the bullet biting into his right arm painfully. He looked to see who fired it and was surprised to see a crowd of armed townspeople standing there. They all had the same look in their eyes… the look that meant they were being controlled by Legato. He looked at the blue haired man, " Bastard! "

" You are all out of options. Your choices are to fight back or die. There is no other way out of this, " Legato declared. Another shot was fired and Vash dodged it, the bullet grazing his cheek as he did.

Vash lifted his gun and aimed it at Legato. " Go ahead… do it, " Legato said. " I will welcome this to be my time to die. There is no reason for an egocentric being such as myself to continue living… give me nothingness… give me death. "

Legato continued, " My master is waiting for your visit. He is looking forward to seeing you after all these years. " Legato lifted his left hand, " I was compelled to attach this arm to myself because you refused to be by his side… to help him realize his dream. "

" It's not a dream! It's a sick nightmare! " Vash lifted the gun to aim but another shot was fired, this bullet grazing the back of his knee.

" Shoot me, " Legato said.

" I can't! " Vash replied.

" Shoot me. "

" I CAN'T! " Vash let the gun fall to the ground and he looked away from Legato. A fearful woman's cry reached Vash's ears… a familiar fearful cry. He looked towards the puppet army and saw they had Meryl as well as Milly.

Someone pushed the big girl down to the ground hard and Meryl cried her name right before someone else shoved her to the ground. ~What are they doing here? I told her to stay away! ~

" Stop them! " Vash screamed at Legato. " NO MORE! "

A villager took aim and fired, sending a shotgun blast into the ground between the insurance girls' heads. They screamed in terror and Vash gasped. Meryl cried for the people to stop but it didn't look like they would and Milly looked like she was scared shitless.

" STOP IT! STOP IT NOW! " Vash cried again.

" THEN SHOOT ME! " Legato demanded. Vash lifted the gun slowly, his arm shaking as he took aim. Legato got down on one knee so he could be closer and said, " It's alright… just kill me. It's simple; all you need to do is pull the trigger and it will all be over. "

Vash tried to block out the cries of the girls, wondering if Wolfwood was with them or if he were dead somewhere, killed by Legato's pawns. It wouldn't have taken much since he was recovering from blood loss and Vash was certain he was gone. " If you kill me, the ocean of blood that threatens to swallow you will only come up a little. If you don't kill me and those people die, the blood will swallow you whole… it's time to choose because you have free will! "

" Please stop it! Please don't make me do this! Don't make me shoot! " Vash cried.

The girls cried out again as the villagers moved in closer and Vash looked to them. " Your faith is obstinate to actually believe the prattling of a woman who only spoke in idealistic worthless contradictions. That way of thinking must make sense to someone who has lived over a century. Your way of life is so pathetic it is almost comical. "

Legato chuckled, " Rem Saverem… a wasted existence that only spoke in aggravating logic. She was worthless… a lot like you but not like you at all. "

" That's enough! " Vash shot to his feet, hearing all he wanted to hear. Wolfwood's voice echoed in his head…

" Luck and persistence won't work forever. "

Another bullet found a place in his body as Rem's voice came next…

" As we journey through our lives we must search for ways to make everyone happy. "

The girls cried out again as the villagers closed in more and Wolfwood was speaking again…

" Don't force your way of live upon others! "

Rem…

" No one has the right to take the life of another. "

Wolfwood…

" Don't tell me your dreams in a world like this! "

Rem…

" If you keep your vision clear, you will always find the future. "

The girls screamed again but this time it sounded like they were both scared to death… even more so than before. He could see the ocean of blood Legato had spoke of in his head as he tried to decide but it would only get deeper no matter which choice he made. Another voice… one from so long ago came through…

" We made the smallest sacrifice we could at the time, " It was Joey. Killing Legato would be the smallest sacrifice he could make but he didn't want to kill him… he promised never to put out one flame of life. He promised her…

He had another vision of Rem but she was fading… he had to make his choice…

He had to make it…

And he did. His finger pulled the trigger and the world around him fell away, utter cold settling into his bones as Legato's body crumpled to the ground.

**

Wolfwood walked up the path as fast as he could, forcing himself to take each step even though each one felt like it would be his last. The Thomases had refused to even get close to the hill, making him have to walk. He had felt fine in the wagon but now he was really starting to feel the effects of the blood loss everyone said he had experienced. He heard gunfire and screaming as he climbed, realizing that the Thomases sensed the danger.

He forced himself to move faster when everything became silent after one last gunshot. Silence was not a good thing at all and he wondered what he would find when he reached the top. At last, the top of the hill became visible and he stopped at the scene before him. Several unconscious people were scattered around, weapons lying around them.

In the middle of the people were Milly and Meryl. They too were unconscious but they weren't hurt. The sound of someone whimpering reached his ears and he looked up from the girls. Vash stood a few yarz away, shaking and freaking out with his gun dangling limply in his hand as he stared at something on the ground.

Wolfwood looked to see what it was and had to blink to make sure he was seeing the scene right. In front of Vash lay Legato… a pool of blood spreading around his head and a smile on his lips. Wolfwood took a step forward but his world started to spin and darken. His exertion had caught up with him and he tumbled to the ground, everything vanishing as he went numb.