Chap.6



"Very good, my son. Very impressive." The emperor nodded surveying the plans that Folken had presented him with. Folken flushed. It felt good to be praised.

"The...spire will enable to pick up anyone who has crossed our territory within a 500mile radius. As well, the castle will have an underground sewage system hooked up, so that water from the river can be connected into it. It should be finished within a year." He said. The Emperor smiled.

"Very good...and of the guymelefs?"

"Ahh..yes, my final plans. I plan to create something that will enable the guymelefs to travel without detection. It will be a vast improvement, as now, people can see the guymelefs from afar."

Dornkirk nodded. He regarded the boy. He really wasn't a boy anymore. After more than 2 years, he had changed drastically. No longer, did he mope about the palace, depressed and unwilling to do anything. He participated in the systems of the palace, continually working to improve the machinery, the palace and the guymelefs. He had also grown, physically as well as emotionally. Taller, stronger and lithe, his once-long hair had been cut close to his head. The once-rash young boy had grown into a calm, intelligent young man. He was shrewd, cunning and a technological genius. In one year, Zaibach had improved vastly, gaining technological heights that would've taken years if not for Folken. People had started giving him the nickname "Strategos" as he really was, the strategy behind the entire Zaibach empire.

The Emperor had never figured out exactly had made the young boy change his mind. Perhaps it was the princess. Though, even now, after a year, Folken still refused to marry the princess. Most did see the two of them as a couple though. Dornkirk, though, really couldn't care less. One way or another, the boy had changed, grown and come to serve Zaibach. Now...now the next part of his plan could take place. Only, Dornkirk thought, was the boy ready?

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Folken exited the throne room, where the Emperor resided. His mind was whirling, as usual, with ideas. He had great ideas, great plans for Zaibach. Turning the corner, he reached the end of a corridor. Climbing the staircase, he circled higher and higher, until he came to a small hallway. He crossed the floor, until he reached the window at the end. It was one of the tower rooms, seldom used as it was located so high. But Folken loved it. Partly, because it was so secluded, away from the bustle of the castle. But partly, also because, from the great height, he could see, in the distance, the beautiful mountains. Mountains, that, on the other side, held Fanelia. Suppressing the urge to gaze across the range to see the forests again, he shook his head. No, he must no think of it. He looked down at his metal hand. The hand that the Emperor had given back to him when he had lost the real one in the fight with the dragon. The Emperor had given him his life, and he would do all in his power to return the favor.

And now, he was Zaibach. Folken Strategos...that's what they called him. That's who he was. Turning quickly, he entered his laboratory. Various machines hummed, and candles burned. He was working on an everlasting flame. Checking his experiments, he bustled around the room, checking all his projects. This was his room, and it was the one place that gave him peace. Peace. He thought back to what Kent had said, on that day so long ago.

'You will find peace...if not happiness.'

Could it be true, had he found peace? Happiness even? Unsure, Folken frowned. There was a knock at the door.

"Come in." He answered. Kent entered. Over the year, the young commander had grown quite a bit. Not too much older than Folken himself, Kent had been his one and only friend. Kent had been the one that had pulled him out of his misery, making him see the light in his destiny. Now, Kent approached him.

"Ah...peace and quiet at last." He grinned. Folken quirked an eyebrow.

"Is Dilandau at it again?"

Kent nodded ruefully. Dilandau. Another unsettling thought. The young boy-child, whom the Emperor had taken an sudden interest, was causing havoc in the castle. Naturally a trouble-maker, Dilandau was growing up to be a cruel, sadistic young boy. He was constantly causing problems amongst the servant and soldiers, scaring the court ladies and beating upon those younger than himself.

"I say we go and teach that kid a lesson." Kent grinned. Folken nodded.

"Yes..most would be happier I think."

Kent laughed.

"So what are you working on now?"

"Stealth cloaks." Folken said, in deep concentration. Kent nodded. He rarely understood any of Folken's plans, but he greatly admired the young man. Clapping a hand on his back, Kent asked,

"You free to come and have a drink?"

"Well..." Folken looked reluctant to leave his work.

"Aww..come on. All work and no play makes Folken a dull boy." Kent cajoled him. Folken was forced to grin.

"Alright. Just give me a minute. I'll pack up this stuff. I'll meet you by the gates."

"Okay." Kent grinned and rushed out of the room.

Folken sighed, putting his papers into a pile. Sometimes, he envied his friend for his joy in life. How he was able to see past all the bad and still see the good. Throwing on a cloak, he exited his tower room.

He was halfway down the staircase was when he ran into the princess. Lourdes, after a year, had grown even more beautiful. Her ever-changing eyes were now a soft violet. Folken knew that the Emperor expected him to marry Lourdes, even the princess expected it. It was the perfect marriage. The princess and the Strategos. But, even though, the princes was beautiful, kind, funny and very interesting, Folken couldn't help but feel like he would be betraying his best friend. And so, he had put the wedding arrangements at a standstill, making up excuse after excuse. The princess too, didn't seem to be in too much of a rush for marriage. Folken had a pretty good a idea why.

Lourdes smiled at Folken when she saw him.

"Hello, I was just coming up to talk to you."

"Oh..what about?" Folken stopped and looked at her. Lourdes bit her lip.

"Ummm...well..." Her eyes didn't meet his, rather they studied the wall behind his ear rather intently.

"Yes?" Folken chided her impatiently.

Her eyes refused to meet his. "Umm...Father..father has told me...to..set....a date...." She said, somewhat reluctantly.

"A date?" Folken asked blankly.

"Yes...for the wedding."

"Oh." Folken too, didn't meet the princess' eyes. Folken couldn't help but feel angry. Why did the Emperor have to push him into marriage? True, Lourdes was very beautiful, but, up until only recently, their relationship had been only formal. Only recently had they become better friends.

"Well?" The princess wrung her hands in distress.

"What do want me to do about it?" He asked, somewhat irritably. His mind was still preoccupied with his projects and experiments. Lourdes' huge eyes glistened.

"Well...I expected you to do something!! React, maybe?" She narrowed her eyes, "But if you don't mind this marriage thing, well, then I don't either!" She whirled away and stormed off. Folken stared at her, What the hell just happened there? He thought.



"Hahaha...and then the lady screamed and Dilandau was like, 'Here's the rest' and he just tossed the head onto her lap!"

Across the table, Kent looked at Folken. Folken just shrugged. They had reached the tavern, and had been forced to share a table with several of Dilandau's groupies. Now, they were laughing hysterically, telling stories of the boy's feats. Folken looked down at the soldier beside him, he had been laughing so hard, he had passed out. Kent rolled his eyes. Folken though, couldn't really care less. He had been absorbed in his own thoughts. Only now, were Lourdes' words sinking in. Marriage. Marriage??!?!?! To Lourdes??! His mind practically screamed at him. Well...was it really so bad? Surely, he could learn to love her, and she, could she learn to love him? Then, he'd look across the table and see Kent, the best friend he'd made here, and he knew that he couldn't do such a thing to him. Kent's entire life was wrapped up in Lourdes, and even though he'd rather die than admit it, Kent's heart would break if Lourdes was taken away from him. Folken sighed. Also, Lourdes, did she really love him? He was pretty sure that the answer was no...but...

Kent suddenly stood up. He motioned for Folken to follow.

"Damn that Dilandau, can we not even have a drink without hearing about him?"

Folken shook his head, hiding a smile at Kent's obvious dislike of the child. He followed Kent out onto the streets of the Zaibach city. Doven was a city of technological genius. Every house was connected to a series of underground water channels, keeping the city relatively clean. Also, the planning was ingenious, so that, if ever under attack, mountains to the back, and huge stone fields to the front would prevent any army from ever reaching it. It wasn't a beautiful city, no, but like all of Zaibach, it was resourceful. The passed the villagers, many of them staring and pointing at Folken. Kent grinned at him. Folken flushed. He disliked the attention he got from the population of Doven. Many regarded him as a genius, adding improvement after improvement to the city. Some though, the ones who were giving him evil looks, thought he was a traitor to his own country. And why shouldn't they, Folken thought bitterly, then pushed the thought to the back of his mind.

They approached another tavern, this one instituted in a poorer section of the city. Although somewhat shabbier, at least it was devoid of any of Dilandau's followers. Kent fell into a chair and instantly ordered a beer. A serving maid approached. Somewhat pretty, her flashing green eyes instantly reminded Folken of another set of green eyes. Green eyes that only appeared in dreams. Kent noticed Folken's sudden quiet.

"Eh...what's through the mind?" He asked, taking a sip of his cold beer. Folken shrugged, not touching his cup.

"Aww..come on. Tell me.." Kent

"You don't wanna know." Folken answered shortly, he wasn't feeling so great. His head whirled. Kent blanched, but continued.

"Sure...uh...sure I do...Come on."

"No, trust me, you don't." He answered irritably, his world was spinning....

"Is...it...about...Lourdes?" He asked.

Folken suddenly felt the strangest sensation of being ripped out of his body. He felt, as if someone had picked him up and tossed him out, out of his body, his mind, out of control. Somehow, it was as if Folken was not there, as if he was watching the whole thing pass, like a movie. He nodded, he was pretty sure that he hadn't commanded his head to nod. Kent paled almost to white.

"No..." He whispered.

"Yes." Folken nodded, his voice almost cold. Folken felt trapped inside of his body. No!! He wanted to shout. He felt binded in place. What was this force disenabling him to say what he wanted.....

"Yes," He heard himself repeat. "Yes, I am marrying Lourdes. Lourdes..will be mine." A voice that was not his own said those words, yet, Folken watched in horror as Kent's eyes glazed over. No! He shouted over and over, that is not me!! But, seeing Kent's look of horror, Folken knew that Kent hadn't noticed a difference in Folken. Folken felt trapped, trapped inside his own body.

"No..." Kent whispered, "No!" He shouted, this time, lunging at Folken. Folken watched, unable to do anything, as the thing that had taken over him sidestepped Kent, then retaliated by shoving his elbow into Kent's stomach. Kent doubled over in pain.

Noo!! Folken shouted, focusing all of his will into escaping his inner prison, all to no avail...

He watched, despairingly, as Kent glared at him, a mixture of hate, hurt and anger. Folken watched helplessly as he watched as his friend limp away. Only when Kent had disappeared, did the power that had seized him, let go. He collapsed to the ground. His body racked with great gulps of air, and he felt weak.

"What....the...." He whispered, then blacked out.



Chap.7



Folken's eyes fluttered open slowly. Where was he? Suddenly, it all flooded back to him, the tavern, the strange sensation of being taken over, ...Kent. He sat up.

"Oh gods..." He muttered. What about his friend? He stared down at his hands, moving all the fingers one by one. They all seemed to work....What had happened to him back there? He was laying in his bed, obviously, someone had found him passed out in the tavern and had brought him back....Folken made a face. An overwhelming sense of guilt rushed into him. Getting up, he pulled the curtains open, to let the dim sun rush into the room. Sighing, he went in search of Kent.



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Lourdes looked down at her hands.

"..but...but Father..he...I..he doesn't want to.." She stammered. She hated the fear that struck her every time she talked to him. She hated the way he made her feel. She hated how she always had to bow to him. And most of all, she hated how he controlled her, used her, and the way she always thought it was love. She dared a glance up at her Father. His face was impassive.

"Have you tried, daughter?" He said, his voice cold, cutting. She trembled.

"Yes.." She whispered.

"Well..obviously not hard enough." His voice was hard. She stared at her feet. His voice grew softer. "Ahh..my daughter, you know how much it pains me, to make you work so hard, yet, can't you do this? For me? After all I've done for you?"

She looked up at him, and his face was gently. He smiled at her, and she could've died happy. Yes, she would do anything to please him. To make him proud. To make him love her.........

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Folken wandered the halls of the castle, for the first time feeling empty and lost. Not since he had first come here, had he felt this way. Always, there had been his laboratory, his projects, and Kent to take up his time. Now, without Kent, suddenly he felt desolate. And so, he walked around aimlessly, looking for Kent, half-afraid that he would jump out at the next corner, yet disappointed that he didn't. He wondered what he would say if he did find Kent. I'm going to marry your true love, can we be friends anyway? Even in Folken's own mind, it sounded ridiculous. But what was he supposed to do?

You can say no....That little voice in his mind spoke up.

He narrowed his eyes in irritation. No, that would never work. Everyone expected him to marry Lourdes...it was...duty.

"...umm..." He bumped into Lourdes. Looking up, he realized he was standing in front of the Emperor's throne room. Lourdes looked pale, and more than a little flustered.

"Hi..." He trailed off. There was an awkward pause. Finally, Lourdes burst out.

"Well..if you don't want to marry me....you don't have to. I mean, I'd understand." She forced a brave smile. Folken shook his head.

"No..no. I do...but..."

"But?"

"Kent..." Folken looked away, as did Lourdes.

"I don't know..." She said, frustration in her voice. She looked at Folken her eyes a pale grey. "I don't know."

Folken shrugged. As she turned to leave, Folken watched her. Shaking his head, he turned as well.

Folken...

That voice inside of him called him. He turned, heading into the throne room. Almost a year ago, he had figured out that the Emperor could speak to him through his mind. It had been a shock at first, but now, now it was somewhat more efficient. And, as Folken gazed down at the metal contraption that replaced his arm, he had owed more to the Emperor than his life.

The room was dark, as always.

"Folken.." The Emperor looked at him. Folken suppressed the urge to bow. Over the years, he had come to greatly appreciate and respect Dornkirk. Although somewhat strange in his ways, Folken had learned that the Emperor always had his reasons.

"Folken, Lourdes has told me that you do not approve of the wedding?"

"No...I just, think that maybe it is a little too soon." Folken spoke softly. Dornkirk nodded.

"I see, so..when do you want to schedule it?"

"Umm..maybe in a few years?" Folken looked up uncertainly. But the Emperor's face, as always was impassive. He nodded.

"I see."

"Its just that..I am working on so much presently, and..I don't' have time to..."

"I understand." Dornkirk interrupted. He nodded. "I understand. We will postpone it then." He nodded, signaling that it was time for Folken to leave. Nodding, Folken turned and left.

When he was out of the room, Folken breathed a sigh of relief. That was easy, he thought. Then, another thought occurred to him, That was all just a little too easy......



To Be Continued..