Demona: Hi everyone! Here is your long awaited chapter 5. This must be my longest chapter yet. And for once, no arguing with Daemonar.
Luthvian: But for how long?
Shanis: Good question.
Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne, the TV series or the movie: A Girl in Gaea.
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Hitomi groaned as she rolled onto her back. *That was some ride. I'll never complain about roller coasters again…what the? Wet grass? Moss?* She wondered as she got up. *Two moons? I'm on Gaea!* "I'm on Gaea!" Hitomi shouted as she let out a joy of laughter. [Think of Heero Yuy in Endless Waltz.] "I'm back, I'm back on Gaea, as I promised you, Van, I would."
_*x*_
"But that's impossible! Hitomi would never love someone else in your place."
"Well apparently she had a child with someone else. Anyway, there's nothing I can do to undo what has already been done. Also there's the fact that she might have found someone else to love instead of me when we are two worlds and ten rotations apart from each other. I don't blame her for her actions at all. I don't even know if I'm still in love with her anymore." *But I know I still do. I know I still love you Hitomi.*
Merle went up to hug him, for she could see he needed a friend right now. "You don't have to hide your feelings Lord Van." She spoke up. Merle could see that her best friend was doing what he had always done, hiding his emotions. And that deep inside, his heart was torn to pieces and weeping. Then Merle brightened up. "Maybe the girl was lying. After all, I mean come on, she did attack me and Hitomi is quite famous on Gaea, especially in Fanalia."
"Now Merle, we can't just assume the girl I met was the same person, if the attacker was a girl, who made you black out. We don't have any physical proof of that after all." *Why am I defending Hope? Shouldn't I be mad at her for what she said? And why do I keep believing what she said? Hope might not even be the girl's real name and second, there is a huge possibility that she wasn't telling the truth. But why does my heart, my soul keep pushing the fact that she is telling the truth? Even when my mind keeps pointing out quite rational reasons that she is not. Maybe it's because of her eyes. They were very much like Hitomi's. Perhaps she hypnotized me into believing that she's Hitomi's daughter…*
"But still, she could be lying." Merle persisted.
"Either way, I will get to the bottom of this." Van replied as he approached the gates of Fanalia. The guards peered down to find their king, standing outside the doors.
"Open the gates for His Majesty!"
"Welcome back Lord Van."
Van just responded with a brief nod. After the Destiny war and a little while after Hitomi left, Fanalia had been finally rebuilt. The country looked as if it had never been destroyed. "Lord Van?"
"Yes Merle, what is it?"
"Don't forget the council meeting with your advisors this afternoon."
Van just groaned. Even at 25 rotations he still sometimes acted like a child. Without Merle to keep him on the right track, he would have lost it from the pressures of the court and the pain of the loss of Hitomi. The cat-woman had always been like a little sister to him, even though at times she did act like she was his older sister. Not to mention as overprotective of her only family. [Not because she was romantically in love with him.] It wasn't as if council meetings were totally boring, it was just that lately they had been going over a touchy subject for him: marriage. Sometimes he hoped something drastic would happen to get them to forget about it. What had been more annoying was that everytime they managed to 'run' into him, his advisors would try to drop very [eh-hem] noticeable hints, down to the point of being quite blunt with the fact that he was still unmarried and Fanalia needed a queen. But today, he had absolutely no tolerance for it.
"There is an important matter we have to discuss."
"Not right now, Stephan." Van continued to walk briskly to the only place he would have solitude in.
"But sire, you're…"
"I said, 'Not right now,'" Van replied as he closed his bedroom door. As soon as he reached his bed, Van collapsed onto it. *Why Hitomi? Why? I thought you loved me. I thought you had finally come back to me, but instead I find your daughter. I told you that I loved you and I meant it Hitomi. I will always love you. I know that there is a possibility that the girl could be lying, but something in me tells me that it's the truth. Is it really the truth Hitomi? Is it really the truth that you have found another to love.*
_*x*_
"Master, the pillar of light has vanished."
"So, our experiment was successful after all?"
"No. It was not. The light had appeared before we started the trial again."
"As it reads in the book of Dornkirk, that this is the unknown element which is needed in order to control fate."
"But sir, this is the second pillar we've seen today. The first one's light particles were very much different from the second one's. I think we may have a…"
"Second unknown element?" But this is not possible. Wait, I can see it quite clearly now. Capture the cause of the first unknown element for they can do more than just control destiny."
_*x*_
"Commander, we have news from the northeastern regions."
"What is it Gaddis?"
"There is a rumor going around that the areas the Zaibach Empire used to control are arming up. In the last few moons, huge shipments of weaponry, machinery, and armor have been delivered to those areas. So, what do you think?"
"Send spies to those areas to see if the Zaibach Empire really is preparing for a war. If they find the rumors are true and any other suspicious behavior, have them report back to me at once Gaddis."
"Of course Commander. I will dispatch our spies immediately."
_*x*_
A middle-aged man crept silently as he advanced closer to the camp. His beady eyes squinted as he focused on the large wagon being hulled in.
"Sir?"
The man turned his head to the youth next to him. "Do you have anything to report?"
"My brother and I managed to sneak into one of the storehouses. We think we might have found something."
"Lead the way." The man replied as he followed the youth. They managed to creep in when one of the soldiers left his post to report to his superior.
"By the gods, there is enough fire power in here to destroy all of Austuria and still have enough to demolish Freid with."
"Sir." The youth murmured.
"Yes Anon?"
"Robert is missing. He was by the door a minute ago, but now he seems to have disappeared." Anon whispered."
"Your brother is probably outside keeping watch. Now keep looking boy. We must find as much evidence as we can. After all, we can't report back to Sir Allen empty-handed. Now see if you can find…"
"Find what sir?" The man pulled Anon down quickly behind a pile of crates. Before Anon could say anything else, his captain had put a finger in front of his lips, signaling him to be silent.
"I think someone's in here." Came a voice from the outside as the door opened. "Search everywhere! Block all possible exits."
*We have to get out of here. Where is the other boy? If the boy was smart, he must have returned to the Commander.* The man looked all over the large building from his hiding spot. Then, he spotted a doorway that was hidden behind a pile of lumber. When the guards started leaving the storehouse, the captain and Anon made a break for the door. Unfortunately, before they could reach the forest for cover, the enemy had captured them.
"Bring the fools here." Their leader commanded with a sneer. "Then they can join their pathetic comrade. Or…at least what is left of him." And as he said that the other guards had brought in Robert's remains.
Anon stared at the man with anger. "You bastard!"
"Why thank you. After all, you're next." Then he turned to the captain. "Take note my good man. This is only the beginning." He said as he stuffed a parchment into the captain's belt. "Kill them both. But leave the captain where he'll be found." And then the torture began for those two unfortunate souls.
_*x*_
"Anything to report Gaddis?"
"Commander, we found one of our spies in the forest."
"One? I thought you sent three."
"All three of them are dead. At least that's what we can gather since the man we found was dead."
"We shall remember him well, and he will be given a proper burial with full honors." Allen replied solemnly.
"There was also a letter in the man's belt when we found him." Gaddis explained as he handed Allen the parchment. Allen quickly read it and then rolled it up again.
"Gaddis, see to it that this is delivered to Van."
"Of course."
"And prep the Crusade. We need to arrive in Fanalia soon after this message is delivered."
"Why do I have the feeling there's going to be a battle?"
"Our main object now is to prevent another war from ever happening again."
_*x*_
"Lord Van?"
"Yes?"
"What is it? What does the message say?"
Van gave no answer as he turned his back to her. How was he going to explain this to Merle? That another war might be coming? Another war that would create more orphaned children?
Since Van had remained silent, Merle went up and came face to face with him. After seeing the changes in facial expressions, she had made the transition from a worried little sister to an older sister in charge. Merle put a hand on Van's shoulders and said, "Lord Van, I appreciate you like an older brother who is trying to protect me. But you have to understand; I have seen the worst of it. And the worst of it now is you worrying me, so please tell me what is wrong because I can tell there is something bothering you and it has something to do with that letter."
Van, who still had no idea on what to say, handed the letter to Merle. She quickly read it, looked up at Van, and asked, "What are you going to do Lord Van?"
"I'm going to reawaken Escaflowne. If I know Allen, He'll be arriving in Fanalia very soon."
"And let me guess what you want me to do. You want me to distract and keep the members of your court from finding out right? You want me to cover for you."
"Merle, what would I do without you?"
"You know, I was wondering about that this morning." Merle smiled as she hugged Van, "Please be careful."
"Okay Merle, I promise." He let go of Merle and walked over to the balcony outside of the room. Riiippp! Craaack! And out came a pair of huge white wings. Feathers rained down. Van turned back at Merle and found her covered with feathers, scowling while she was spitting out a couple of them. Van couldn't help but laugh softly. Merle just hmmphed and turned her head.
After Van took off, she ran out to the balcony and cried, "Be Careful Lord Van! And don't do anything rash!" Merle sighed as she went back in, "Oh who am I kidding? This is Lord Van I'm talking about. Of course he's going to do something stupid." She left the room and was about to head to the council room when she just stood still in the middle of the hallway, staring out one of the windows. She started to quietly pray. "Oh please watch over Lord Van and keep him safe. May you bring him home safely. Good luck Lord Van."
_*x*_
"No Celena."
"Allen, please let me go."
"My answer is still no. It's too dangerous. It would be no place for a la-"
Celana cutted her brother off, "Allen, if you were going to say 'It would be no place for a lady' then do not even bother. I am coming with you whether you like it or not. Plus I do know how to fight and defend myself. I can carry my own weight around. So are we going to argue about this some more or are we going to Fanalia?"
Allen sighed in defeat. There was absolutely no point in arguing with his sister once her mind was set. She was just as determined and as stubborn as he was when he wanted something done. Celena had put her foot down and she was definitely not lifting it up for anyone, especially not for him. "All right Celena, you can go. But promise me you will watch your step and be careful."
"I will." She answered with a devilish grin. Celena then hurried off to get ready and board the leviship.
"Gaddis, why do I have the feeling she will end up doing something dangerous?"
Gaddis chuckled, "She is, after all Commander, your sister."
Allen groaned as he headed for the docking bay. "This is going to be a long mission. A very long one indeed."
_*x*_
"Well my old friend, it looks like you are needed once again." Van said as he touched the white metal. "I didn't think Fanalia, that Gaea, would ever need you again. But now it has come down to the time that we must fight again in order to maintain peace." Van thrusted the energist through the jewel on Escaflowne. Suddenly there was a buzzing noise in the sky. Van looked up to find the Crusade leviship. He got into Escaflowne and changed it into a dragon. Higher and higher Van went as he caught up with the leviship.
The hatch door in the rear opened, allowing Van to land inside. As soon as he got out, Van found his old friend staring at him. "Van, it's good to see you again. You have changed a lot since the last time I saw you." Allen commented.
"And you haven't changed at all. You are still the same Allen Schezar. It's good to see you again old friend." Van replied as he approached Allen.
"Brother, is he the famous Van Fanel, King of Fanalia, you have been talking about?"
Allen turned around to find Celena coming their way. He noted that his sister had changed out of the dress she was wearing earlier that day into a loose-sleeved tunic and trousers. "Yes, he is, Celena."
Celena made a small curtsy to Van. "Your Majesty."
"There is no need for formalities. You can just call me Van."
"Of coarse Lord Van." Celena replied, a mischievous grin appeared across her face as she left the hanger.
Van groaned a little. "Not another one. It's already bad enough that Merle calls me that."
Allen laughed for a bit. "Well technically, it's your fault."
"How is it my fault?"
"When you said there was no need for formalities, you basically told her that you weren't as uptight as other royalty and that you do have a sense of humor. So I guess she came down to the conclusion that it would be both respectable and annoying to call you 'Lord Van.'"
"I see. But Allen, isn't our mission a little dangerous for Celena to come along?"
"Now don't you start about that. Celena basically gave me the impression that it would take more than all the armies of Gaea to stop her from going onto this leviship and then onto the battlefield. Anyway, the look she gave me when she said she was coming, had told me that I was in no position to argue and that it would be hopeless to do so."
"I would have never thought that the famous Knight of Caeli, Allen Schezar, would be beaten by his own sister."
"Yes, but the fact that she carries the same stubbornness I have, doesn't really help when we are on opposing sides. Celena is a good fighter…"
"You taught your sister how to sword fight?"
"Not really. Because Celena still has her memories of being Dilandau, and therefore she remembers the training he had received while he was in the Zaibach army. That and the fact she kept pestering me so that I would practice with her." Allen then paused for a moment, thinking, before he continued explaining. "I also feel that one of the reasons why she wants to come along is so she could repay for what she did as Dilandau."
Van nodded with an understanding expression. "I see what you mean."
Teo ran up to them. "Boss, we are approaching the enemy's camp."
"Get ready to descend and release the guymelefs."
"Sure Boss!" He yelled as he dashed back to the bridge.
Van, Allen, and three more of Allen's men went into their guymelefs. Moments later, the hatch slowly opened and then the five started to dive. The enemy had been expecting them. The enemy also had five guymelefs operating and beside them was a small group of soldiers.
"Attack!" Yelled out the man who had earlier ordered the deaths of Allen's spies.
Allen's men and Celena started fighting back once the Crusade had landed. Blood started raining on the ground. The battle cries full of hate, sorrow, anger, and vengeance echoed in the air. Allen managed to destroy the energist of his opponent. The other guymelef stumbled back before falling straight down to the ground. Just then, Allen spotted a man sneaking up on Celena while she was fighting another opponent. He managed to swat him away without seriously harming the man. Celena nodded her thanks once she had noticed what was going on.
Van was still ferociously fighting the guymelef attacking him. He maneuvered Escaflowne away, changed it into its dragon form, and then started attacking again. Van had the advantage since Escaflowne could fight in the air while Zaibach guymelefs could only fly in the air, not fight. The man in the other guymelef smirked evilly. He too had an advantage as he pushed one of the buttons. His guymelef became invisible as the stealth cloak was pulled over. *Oh no, you don't. I know this trick.* Van thought as he concentrated. In his mind, a pendent started swinging. *On my right!* In the other guymelef, the pilot was astonished. *How? How could he have found me?* Unfortunately this was his last thought before the energist exploded.
After his opponent had fallen, Van spotted the storehouse behind the fighting. But before he could reach it, Escaflowne was knocked away by something. When van regained control, he looked up to find something he had definitely not expected to see this day or any day: A red guymelef.
"Allen!" Van called through the com, "Look in front of you."
"Van, you don't think it's…"
"Burn! Hahahaha! BURN!" The pilot screamed insanely from inside the red guymelef as fire spat out from both arms.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Demona: Now you don't have to be a rocket scientist in order to figure out who the pilot of the red guymelef is? Now how did he come back? Especially since we just saw Celena two paragraphs before hmmm?
Shanis: You coming?
Demona: Sure, where are we going?
Lirpa: To the local bar, of coarse. Last time my sister and the feline got drunk without me.
Cyberkitty: The feline has a name you know.
Lirpa: Yes I know I just don't acknowledge it.
Cyberkitty: Well maybe if you actually used the small organ in your head for once…
Lirpa: Actually I do use it. You, on the other hand, are…
Cyberkitty and Lirpa continue trading put-downs.
Demona: And you say Daemonar and I are bad.
Luthvian: Told you peace wouldn't last.
Shanis: Didn't think so either. Looks like another migraine's coming.
Demona: Try this new potion I just made.
Shanis stares at her wide-eyed, before starting to run faster than the speed of light.
Demona: Was it something I said?
Luthvian: Try something you made.
Luthvian: But for how long?
Shanis: Good question.
Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne, the TV series or the movie: A Girl in Gaea.
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Hitomi groaned as she rolled onto her back. *That was some ride. I'll never complain about roller coasters again…what the? Wet grass? Moss?* She wondered as she got up. *Two moons? I'm on Gaea!* "I'm on Gaea!" Hitomi shouted as she let out a joy of laughter. [Think of Heero Yuy in Endless Waltz.] "I'm back, I'm back on Gaea, as I promised you, Van, I would."
_*x*_
"But that's impossible! Hitomi would never love someone else in your place."
"Well apparently she had a child with someone else. Anyway, there's nothing I can do to undo what has already been done. Also there's the fact that she might have found someone else to love instead of me when we are two worlds and ten rotations apart from each other. I don't blame her for her actions at all. I don't even know if I'm still in love with her anymore." *But I know I still do. I know I still love you Hitomi.*
Merle went up to hug him, for she could see he needed a friend right now. "You don't have to hide your feelings Lord Van." She spoke up. Merle could see that her best friend was doing what he had always done, hiding his emotions. And that deep inside, his heart was torn to pieces and weeping. Then Merle brightened up. "Maybe the girl was lying. After all, I mean come on, she did attack me and Hitomi is quite famous on Gaea, especially in Fanalia."
"Now Merle, we can't just assume the girl I met was the same person, if the attacker was a girl, who made you black out. We don't have any physical proof of that after all." *Why am I defending Hope? Shouldn't I be mad at her for what she said? And why do I keep believing what she said? Hope might not even be the girl's real name and second, there is a huge possibility that she wasn't telling the truth. But why does my heart, my soul keep pushing the fact that she is telling the truth? Even when my mind keeps pointing out quite rational reasons that she is not. Maybe it's because of her eyes. They were very much like Hitomi's. Perhaps she hypnotized me into believing that she's Hitomi's daughter…*
"But still, she could be lying." Merle persisted.
"Either way, I will get to the bottom of this." Van replied as he approached the gates of Fanalia. The guards peered down to find their king, standing outside the doors.
"Open the gates for His Majesty!"
"Welcome back Lord Van."
Van just responded with a brief nod. After the Destiny war and a little while after Hitomi left, Fanalia had been finally rebuilt. The country looked as if it had never been destroyed. "Lord Van?"
"Yes Merle, what is it?"
"Don't forget the council meeting with your advisors this afternoon."
Van just groaned. Even at 25 rotations he still sometimes acted like a child. Without Merle to keep him on the right track, he would have lost it from the pressures of the court and the pain of the loss of Hitomi. The cat-woman had always been like a little sister to him, even though at times she did act like she was his older sister. Not to mention as overprotective of her only family. [Not because she was romantically in love with him.] It wasn't as if council meetings were totally boring, it was just that lately they had been going over a touchy subject for him: marriage. Sometimes he hoped something drastic would happen to get them to forget about it. What had been more annoying was that everytime they managed to 'run' into him, his advisors would try to drop very [eh-hem] noticeable hints, down to the point of being quite blunt with the fact that he was still unmarried and Fanalia needed a queen. But today, he had absolutely no tolerance for it.
"There is an important matter we have to discuss."
"Not right now, Stephan." Van continued to walk briskly to the only place he would have solitude in.
"But sire, you're…"
"I said, 'Not right now,'" Van replied as he closed his bedroom door. As soon as he reached his bed, Van collapsed onto it. *Why Hitomi? Why? I thought you loved me. I thought you had finally come back to me, but instead I find your daughter. I told you that I loved you and I meant it Hitomi. I will always love you. I know that there is a possibility that the girl could be lying, but something in me tells me that it's the truth. Is it really the truth Hitomi? Is it really the truth that you have found another to love.*
_*x*_
"Master, the pillar of light has vanished."
"So, our experiment was successful after all?"
"No. It was not. The light had appeared before we started the trial again."
"As it reads in the book of Dornkirk, that this is the unknown element which is needed in order to control fate."
"But sir, this is the second pillar we've seen today. The first one's light particles were very much different from the second one's. I think we may have a…"
"Second unknown element?" But this is not possible. Wait, I can see it quite clearly now. Capture the cause of the first unknown element for they can do more than just control destiny."
_*x*_
"Commander, we have news from the northeastern regions."
"What is it Gaddis?"
"There is a rumor going around that the areas the Zaibach Empire used to control are arming up. In the last few moons, huge shipments of weaponry, machinery, and armor have been delivered to those areas. So, what do you think?"
"Send spies to those areas to see if the Zaibach Empire really is preparing for a war. If they find the rumors are true and any other suspicious behavior, have them report back to me at once Gaddis."
"Of course Commander. I will dispatch our spies immediately."
_*x*_
A middle-aged man crept silently as he advanced closer to the camp. His beady eyes squinted as he focused on the large wagon being hulled in.
"Sir?"
The man turned his head to the youth next to him. "Do you have anything to report?"
"My brother and I managed to sneak into one of the storehouses. We think we might have found something."
"Lead the way." The man replied as he followed the youth. They managed to creep in when one of the soldiers left his post to report to his superior.
"By the gods, there is enough fire power in here to destroy all of Austuria and still have enough to demolish Freid with."
"Sir." The youth murmured.
"Yes Anon?"
"Robert is missing. He was by the door a minute ago, but now he seems to have disappeared." Anon whispered."
"Your brother is probably outside keeping watch. Now keep looking boy. We must find as much evidence as we can. After all, we can't report back to Sir Allen empty-handed. Now see if you can find…"
"Find what sir?" The man pulled Anon down quickly behind a pile of crates. Before Anon could say anything else, his captain had put a finger in front of his lips, signaling him to be silent.
"I think someone's in here." Came a voice from the outside as the door opened. "Search everywhere! Block all possible exits."
*We have to get out of here. Where is the other boy? If the boy was smart, he must have returned to the Commander.* The man looked all over the large building from his hiding spot. Then, he spotted a doorway that was hidden behind a pile of lumber. When the guards started leaving the storehouse, the captain and Anon made a break for the door. Unfortunately, before they could reach the forest for cover, the enemy had captured them.
"Bring the fools here." Their leader commanded with a sneer. "Then they can join their pathetic comrade. Or…at least what is left of him." And as he said that the other guards had brought in Robert's remains.
Anon stared at the man with anger. "You bastard!"
"Why thank you. After all, you're next." Then he turned to the captain. "Take note my good man. This is only the beginning." He said as he stuffed a parchment into the captain's belt. "Kill them both. But leave the captain where he'll be found." And then the torture began for those two unfortunate souls.
_*x*_
"Anything to report Gaddis?"
"Commander, we found one of our spies in the forest."
"One? I thought you sent three."
"All three of them are dead. At least that's what we can gather since the man we found was dead."
"We shall remember him well, and he will be given a proper burial with full honors." Allen replied solemnly.
"There was also a letter in the man's belt when we found him." Gaddis explained as he handed Allen the parchment. Allen quickly read it and then rolled it up again.
"Gaddis, see to it that this is delivered to Van."
"Of course."
"And prep the Crusade. We need to arrive in Fanalia soon after this message is delivered."
"Why do I have the feeling there's going to be a battle?"
"Our main object now is to prevent another war from ever happening again."
_*x*_
"Lord Van?"
"Yes?"
"What is it? What does the message say?"
Van gave no answer as he turned his back to her. How was he going to explain this to Merle? That another war might be coming? Another war that would create more orphaned children?
Since Van had remained silent, Merle went up and came face to face with him. After seeing the changes in facial expressions, she had made the transition from a worried little sister to an older sister in charge. Merle put a hand on Van's shoulders and said, "Lord Van, I appreciate you like an older brother who is trying to protect me. But you have to understand; I have seen the worst of it. And the worst of it now is you worrying me, so please tell me what is wrong because I can tell there is something bothering you and it has something to do with that letter."
Van, who still had no idea on what to say, handed the letter to Merle. She quickly read it, looked up at Van, and asked, "What are you going to do Lord Van?"
"I'm going to reawaken Escaflowne. If I know Allen, He'll be arriving in Fanalia very soon."
"And let me guess what you want me to do. You want me to distract and keep the members of your court from finding out right? You want me to cover for you."
"Merle, what would I do without you?"
"You know, I was wondering about that this morning." Merle smiled as she hugged Van, "Please be careful."
"Okay Merle, I promise." He let go of Merle and walked over to the balcony outside of the room. Riiippp! Craaack! And out came a pair of huge white wings. Feathers rained down. Van turned back at Merle and found her covered with feathers, scowling while she was spitting out a couple of them. Van couldn't help but laugh softly. Merle just hmmphed and turned her head.
After Van took off, she ran out to the balcony and cried, "Be Careful Lord Van! And don't do anything rash!" Merle sighed as she went back in, "Oh who am I kidding? This is Lord Van I'm talking about. Of course he's going to do something stupid." She left the room and was about to head to the council room when she just stood still in the middle of the hallway, staring out one of the windows. She started to quietly pray. "Oh please watch over Lord Van and keep him safe. May you bring him home safely. Good luck Lord Van."
_*x*_
"No Celena."
"Allen, please let me go."
"My answer is still no. It's too dangerous. It would be no place for a la-"
Celana cutted her brother off, "Allen, if you were going to say 'It would be no place for a lady' then do not even bother. I am coming with you whether you like it or not. Plus I do know how to fight and defend myself. I can carry my own weight around. So are we going to argue about this some more or are we going to Fanalia?"
Allen sighed in defeat. There was absolutely no point in arguing with his sister once her mind was set. She was just as determined and as stubborn as he was when he wanted something done. Celena had put her foot down and she was definitely not lifting it up for anyone, especially not for him. "All right Celena, you can go. But promise me you will watch your step and be careful."
"I will." She answered with a devilish grin. Celena then hurried off to get ready and board the leviship.
"Gaddis, why do I have the feeling she will end up doing something dangerous?"
Gaddis chuckled, "She is, after all Commander, your sister."
Allen groaned as he headed for the docking bay. "This is going to be a long mission. A very long one indeed."
_*x*_
"Well my old friend, it looks like you are needed once again." Van said as he touched the white metal. "I didn't think Fanalia, that Gaea, would ever need you again. But now it has come down to the time that we must fight again in order to maintain peace." Van thrusted the energist through the jewel on Escaflowne. Suddenly there was a buzzing noise in the sky. Van looked up to find the Crusade leviship. He got into Escaflowne and changed it into a dragon. Higher and higher Van went as he caught up with the leviship.
The hatch door in the rear opened, allowing Van to land inside. As soon as he got out, Van found his old friend staring at him. "Van, it's good to see you again. You have changed a lot since the last time I saw you." Allen commented.
"And you haven't changed at all. You are still the same Allen Schezar. It's good to see you again old friend." Van replied as he approached Allen.
"Brother, is he the famous Van Fanel, King of Fanalia, you have been talking about?"
Allen turned around to find Celena coming their way. He noted that his sister had changed out of the dress she was wearing earlier that day into a loose-sleeved tunic and trousers. "Yes, he is, Celena."
Celena made a small curtsy to Van. "Your Majesty."
"There is no need for formalities. You can just call me Van."
"Of coarse Lord Van." Celena replied, a mischievous grin appeared across her face as she left the hanger.
Van groaned a little. "Not another one. It's already bad enough that Merle calls me that."
Allen laughed for a bit. "Well technically, it's your fault."
"How is it my fault?"
"When you said there was no need for formalities, you basically told her that you weren't as uptight as other royalty and that you do have a sense of humor. So I guess she came down to the conclusion that it would be both respectable and annoying to call you 'Lord Van.'"
"I see. But Allen, isn't our mission a little dangerous for Celena to come along?"
"Now don't you start about that. Celena basically gave me the impression that it would take more than all the armies of Gaea to stop her from going onto this leviship and then onto the battlefield. Anyway, the look she gave me when she said she was coming, had told me that I was in no position to argue and that it would be hopeless to do so."
"I would have never thought that the famous Knight of Caeli, Allen Schezar, would be beaten by his own sister."
"Yes, but the fact that she carries the same stubbornness I have, doesn't really help when we are on opposing sides. Celena is a good fighter…"
"You taught your sister how to sword fight?"
"Not really. Because Celena still has her memories of being Dilandau, and therefore she remembers the training he had received while he was in the Zaibach army. That and the fact she kept pestering me so that I would practice with her." Allen then paused for a moment, thinking, before he continued explaining. "I also feel that one of the reasons why she wants to come along is so she could repay for what she did as Dilandau."
Van nodded with an understanding expression. "I see what you mean."
Teo ran up to them. "Boss, we are approaching the enemy's camp."
"Get ready to descend and release the guymelefs."
"Sure Boss!" He yelled as he dashed back to the bridge.
Van, Allen, and three more of Allen's men went into their guymelefs. Moments later, the hatch slowly opened and then the five started to dive. The enemy had been expecting them. The enemy also had five guymelefs operating and beside them was a small group of soldiers.
"Attack!" Yelled out the man who had earlier ordered the deaths of Allen's spies.
Allen's men and Celena started fighting back once the Crusade had landed. Blood started raining on the ground. The battle cries full of hate, sorrow, anger, and vengeance echoed in the air. Allen managed to destroy the energist of his opponent. The other guymelef stumbled back before falling straight down to the ground. Just then, Allen spotted a man sneaking up on Celena while she was fighting another opponent. He managed to swat him away without seriously harming the man. Celena nodded her thanks once she had noticed what was going on.
Van was still ferociously fighting the guymelef attacking him. He maneuvered Escaflowne away, changed it into its dragon form, and then started attacking again. Van had the advantage since Escaflowne could fight in the air while Zaibach guymelefs could only fly in the air, not fight. The man in the other guymelef smirked evilly. He too had an advantage as he pushed one of the buttons. His guymelef became invisible as the stealth cloak was pulled over. *Oh no, you don't. I know this trick.* Van thought as he concentrated. In his mind, a pendent started swinging. *On my right!* In the other guymelef, the pilot was astonished. *How? How could he have found me?* Unfortunately this was his last thought before the energist exploded.
After his opponent had fallen, Van spotted the storehouse behind the fighting. But before he could reach it, Escaflowne was knocked away by something. When van regained control, he looked up to find something he had definitely not expected to see this day or any day: A red guymelef.
"Allen!" Van called through the com, "Look in front of you."
"Van, you don't think it's…"
"Burn! Hahahaha! BURN!" The pilot screamed insanely from inside the red guymelef as fire spat out from both arms.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Demona: Now you don't have to be a rocket scientist in order to figure out who the pilot of the red guymelef is? Now how did he come back? Especially since we just saw Celena two paragraphs before hmmm?
Shanis: You coming?
Demona: Sure, where are we going?
Lirpa: To the local bar, of coarse. Last time my sister and the feline got drunk without me.
Cyberkitty: The feline has a name you know.
Lirpa: Yes I know I just don't acknowledge it.
Cyberkitty: Well maybe if you actually used the small organ in your head for once…
Lirpa: Actually I do use it. You, on the other hand, are…
Cyberkitty and Lirpa continue trading put-downs.
Demona: And you say Daemonar and I are bad.
Luthvian: Told you peace wouldn't last.
Shanis: Didn't think so either. Looks like another migraine's coming.
Demona: Try this new potion I just made.
Shanis stares at her wide-eyed, before starting to run faster than the speed of light.
Demona: Was it something I said?
Luthvian: Try something you made.
