--~--~--~--~

Disclaimer: Blah Blah, Jessica smells, blah.. Check out my website: www.geocities.com/silverchair_fanatik/fanart.htm

---------------------



Chapter 7



Co-ed Wrestling is the Greatest Sport of All





---------------------



The Dragonslayers had the remainder of the night off. Deciding it was time to get some exercise, Ava went for a workout in the gym to burn off some excessive energy. She changed into her workout gear, and headed for the track. After running a few kilometers (she had gotten a bit out of shape) she practiced combat with the punching bags. Her kicking and punching had caused her body to be covered in a shiny sheen of sweat as she pushed herself faster and faster. Then she felt eyes in her back. Dilandau, Miguel and Gatti had arrived, also to work out.

"Need a partner?" Dilandau asked, approaching her. He was smirking, clearly thinking that her time off planet had caused her to become poor at hand-to-hand combat. So, Ava agreed. This'll show that smug bastard a thing or two, she thought. The two circled each other for a few moments, and then, quite quickly, Dilandau lunged at her. Ava jumped to the side, and aimed a kick at his abdomen. He grabbed her outstretched leg, and twisted, causing Ava to flip over. She was on her back now, and Dilandau looked triumphant. But this was far from over. Ava kicked him in the back of the knees, making him topple forward. She was on her feet again in a split second, and leapt at him, smooshing him to the ground. They wrestled on the mats for a while, both struggling equally with one another. Ava grabbed a hold of his arm, twisting it behind him, and pushed his elbow inward, while pulling his knees out from under him with one leg. He was flat on his stomach now, Ava sitting on his back. She held him like that for a moment of triumph, and then let go, thinking it was over. As soon as she did, he reached behind him, and flipped her forward, over his head, and in an instant, was on top of her. NOW it was over. "Well," Dilandau panted, still sitting on her chest. "You seem to have picked up a few new moves along the way." He looked down at her smugly. "You still can't top me though." And with that, he stood up, and was gone.



--~--~--~ Ava and the boys sat in a circle on the floor in the dorms. She had her pipe in her mouth, and was inhaling deeply. Still holding the breath, she passed it to Chesta, next to her, who looked at her uncertainly and then took a hoot. He started coughing. Ava giggled as she let her breath go, smoke tendrils adding to the haze around the group. Gatti, across from her, was clearly a lightweight, and was slouching back, in a fit of giggles. Ava laughed. -~--~--~

Currently, the three girls were frozen, staring intensely at each other, atop the huge mat. Naria and Eriya both lunged at Ava, at almost the exact same time. They haven't gotten over their habit of ganging up on Ava, but it had just encouraged Ava to improve faster anyway, and she was used to it. This was her favorite part of her special training.

Naria struck at her with a thin sword that was charged and surrounded with pulsing purple electricity. It whizzed by Ava's ear as she dodged the blow, heaing the electricity crackling and the clean, metallic smell it left in the air. As Ava dodged, she swung at Eriya with her double- bladed axe. It was all frosty around where she was touching it. As it struck the mat where Eriya had been a split second before, a small crater was blown into the mat around the blade, causing tufts of stuffing to float into the air. Ava quickly jumped upwards, grabbing one of the many chains that hung from the ceiling, just as both leopard girls struck at her at the same time. Ava dropped down behind them a split second later, and whacked both girls (not to hard) with the flat side of her axe. The energy she had seeped into the weapon caused both girls to fly forward with extra force. The match was over. Ava strolled over and helped them up.

"Good match" she said, grinning. The twins grinned back "Likewise. I would've had you if stupid Naria didn't get in the way." sulked Eriya. "But you're doing alright. You've still got it," Naria said, patting Ava on the back. Ava grinned. "You bet your ass I do."

--~--~--~

The Dragonslayers stood in formation in Dilandau's room, where he was sprawled lazily on his chair. "more like throne," Ava mused. He was massaging his temples and looking peeved. Ava knew very well why they were here. The attack on Fanalia went reasonably well, but Chesta and Dallet had mucked up pretty bad; their Guymelefs had gotten beated up, and a few of them were spotted by the king of Fanalia, Van Fanel. Suddenly Dilandau spoke

"So I'm to understand that you let those washed-up samurai damage two of my Alseides units? Two?" His finger grazed over his lips and he bit down, hard. Chesta and Dallet piped up, "F-forgive us!" they said, bowing. (or was it cowering?) "Step forward!" Dilandau commanded, standing up. Chesta looked like a bunny being led to the slaughter. Dilandau struck Chesta and Dallet, in quick succession, and they both fell to the floor with surprise and force of the blow. "You had stealth cloaks! How could you let that happen? Are you trying to ruin my reputation?" Dilandau challenged. Chesta and Dallet scrambled back into a bowing position. "Forgive us!" They said again, slightly quavering. Dilandau looked down at them and lowered his voice slightly, to a dangerous tone. "I'll only say this once: I don't need a couple of incompetents in my Dragonslayers. Do you follow me?" Ava inwardly rolled her eyes. "What a drama queen. Too bad he has a point"

Later the next day Dilandau ordered their departure to Asturia. They were on their way to the Castle, to request weapons, food and water. They didn't really need it, and they both knew it; Dilandau merely wanted to exercise his political power over Allen Shezar and Asturia.

They arrived at the castle, in formation, and strolled up the massive red carpet in two straight lines, wielding Zaibach banners, and led by Dilandau. They entered a large, ornate room, lined with people to the sides. Dilandau sauntered up to a man with long, blonde hair, a knight of Caeli. Ava was towards the back of the line, and could only pick out parts of their conversation.

"I'd like to request weapons, food and water. We've engaged in urgent military maneuvers," Dilandau said, adopting a more diplomatic tone, yet still managing to drawl at the same time. "I'll do everything in my power," The blonde knight said politely. "By the way, Sir Allen. You haven't seen a strange Guymelef in the area, have you?" Allen looked like he didn't expect that. "No, not that I know of. It wouldn't have anything to do with maneuvers, would it?" "Possibly," The drawl was more pronounced now. "Would it have anything to do with Fanalia to the west being attacked?" Dilandau laughed. "That run-down little country? Maybe its leaders were eaten by the dragons that wander that valley. It'd be a fitting end for such a backwater country, don't you think? At any rate, it was a country of cowards, led by a king who's gone into hiding. Who cares?" Dilandau smirked. A voice cut in from the crowd to the right. Ava could see a man with black hair and a red shirt spitting out the words angrily: "Not showing yourself during a battle is what's cowardly, wouldn't you say? Dilandau looked over lazily, and strode over, the crowd parting for him like the red sea. But Ava could see him push the man who talked right out of the way, and address someone behind him. "I've never seen clothes like yours before. Where are you from, girl?" Allen appeared beside him. "She's my new lover, I found her in the east. Her name is Hitomi." Allen leaned forward and kissed her. Ava could see Dilandau step back in disgust, and she could clearly see the girl now. She had short-cropped hair, and wore a sailor uniform that seemed familiar to Ava some how. Didn't they have something like that on earth in some countries? She didn't have time to ponder it, for Dilandau was speaking again. "You live up to your reputation Allen Shezar. I hope you put the same effort into our provisions." And with that, Dilandau spun on his heels, and descended through the lines of the Dragonslayers, who followed.

When they reached the hangar and took off, Dilandau's voice cracked over the comm. " We're going back to the Vionne. When we arrive, I want you to get ready and stand by: We're going into battle,"

--~--

Trees surrounded the Dragonslayers. Dilandau's voice cracked over the comm in Ava's ear. "All units, hold position." Then she heard him mutter, "I'm through playing hide and seek."

--~---~---~----~----~----~

Whee! Plez R&R. And the Next chapter will be quite a bit longer, this was just the least awkward place to end it.

NEXT CHAPTER: A 'How-To' in seduction from Dilandau, Delusional Princes, and something very serious happens to our favorite Dragonslayer (commander)