Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Escaflowne. I only own Kat, Blue,
Jewel, Narisia, the new DS, and Rika. Please ask if you wish to use them.
Author's Note: Hey everyone! Okay, the last of the characters are in this chapter. I hope y'all like it! I'd like to dedicate this story to the following, Lightning Wolf, CrimsonFire, and Shadow. You have truly touched me, and I'm so lucky to have you as friends and fellow authors.
Chapter Twenty-One: Battles, Shadows and Powers
Sage Kurai sighed and shook her head. She was a 5'9" woman with long dark blue wavy hair, golden irises, and a golden-tan complexion. Trained as an assassin, she was the one of the best. Her companion, Nausikaa Garufo, stood beside her. Nausikaa was a tall, slender, pale woman with violet eyes and deep black ringlets-which were swept back from her face-and very full expressive lips. Both were dressed in the most comfortable black clothes.
"They'll never win. There's no advantage. Going into battle with a desire to die." Sage said quietly.
"Stupid people. Think we should interfere? I'd really hate to see so much talent go to waste." Nausikaa asked.
"Does the hawk hunt without reason?"
Nausikaa rolled her eyes. She hated Sage's cryptic responses. "No. So we'll wait until we have a reason to interfere."
Sage gave a small smile. Very good, she thought.
****
Dilandau sighed and put his head in his hand. They had landed in an abandoned field that Zaibach had captured from Austria. They had finally set up camp, after three hours of yelling instructions and slapping Slayers. He hated incompetence, and he hated lip. But that's what he got. His Slayers and Kat's Slayers seemed to be at each other's throats.
A sudden movement behind him caused him to whirl around. He stared into the bushes. For a few seconds nothing moved, and then it happened. Like a flash there was a girl in front of him. Instantly he recognized her as Ally, part of the Fanellian rogue band that were tracking them. He jumped to the side just as she released a blast of water from her hands at him.
"Siege! Everyone, Alpha three zero one nine!" He yelled over his shoulder just as Kianna, Josh, Vixen and Cle jumped from their hiding places and began to attack. Ally raised her hands and muttered something. Instantly a wall of water came up around Dilandau, trapping him within it. He gave a low growl and looked to his side as Ally entered the circle. They both drew their sword and went into fighting positions.
Nebula had teamed up with Xenon, Heather and Lacey. They were defending themselves against Kianna. Lacey was trying to summon an Earth Demon, while Nebula kept Kianna's attacks off Xenon. Another blast of fire shot forth from Kianna's mouth, and Nebula was barely able to deflect it with a blast of lightning. Her powers were dampened, and Nebula wasn't able to use most of her attacks.
"We need that demon now, Lacey!" Xenon yelled as she charged Kianna. Kianna defended herself with a dagger pulled out of her shirt. There was no response from Lacey, but suddenly four seven-feet tall Earth demons appeared around her. She opened her eyes and pointed at Kianna. Three of the demons obeyed her unspoken command, while the other one turned and ran into the battle.
"Get him back!" Nebula yelled at Lacey, while firing a bolt of lightning at Kianna.
"I can't! It's hard enough controlling three of them! I can't extend my powers enough and keep control of all of them."
Nebula growled and released another bolt of lightning.
Heather, Sara, Cameron and Rei were together, fighting Josh and Cle. Cameron had conjured up a small black bubble to keep Cle's water sprite's attacks off them, but was struggling with keeping it up. Rei was transformed into her black dragon. It was very menacing, she stood at twelve feet high, six across. Her wing span was nine feet wide, and she was using it to her advantage. Her red spiked back and hard scales were perfect for reflecting the stray attacks coming towards the others. And her flame-thrower was pushing the attackers back.
Sara was busy battling Josh, and Heather was using small balls of energy to help fend off Cle. "You guys, I can't keep this up!" Cameron yelled, her voice strained.
Rei roared, and began to back up.
"Retreat, we can't win! And you heard Lord Dilandau, Alpha three zero one nine!" Heather yelled.
Cameron dropped her shield and began to run towards the guymelefs with Heather and Sara right behind her. Rei took up the back, keeping the attackers back with balls of fire.
Zaiyane was by the guymelefs when an Earth demon suddenly appeared in front of her. It towered over her, ready to attack. She gasped and unthinkingly created a ball of fire and hit the demon. It screamed and disappeared, which was odd. Must be one of Lacey's, she thought.
Just then Sara, Heather, Cameron and Rei came running up. "Get in the guymelefs and return to base!" Zaiyane yelled as they headed towards their 'melefs. Rei took the time to change back and Zaiyane helped her get into her guymelef. The four of them took off.
It wasn't long before Lacey, followed by Nebula and Xenon, came up. Vixen, Cle, Josh, and Kianna were starting to come at them. "Who else are we missing?" Zaiyane asked as Xenon passed her.
"Oh God, Kendall and Lord Dilandau!" He said, freezing.
Zaiyane pushed him. "Go on! I'll get them!"
Xenon nodded and got into his guymelef. The three of them flew off. Zaiyane did a quick count in her head. Yes, the other Slayers had left first thing, and now the others were gone. Suddenly there was a loud pop, and Kendall and Lord Dilandau appeared. Kendall was supporting a very beaten Lord Dilandau, but there was no sign of how they had gotten there. And from the look of it, they seemed just as surprised as Zaiyane.
Kendall helped Dilandau towards his guymelef and Zaiyane turned towards the attackers. She pulled out her flute and raised it to her mouth. She played a few notes and paused. She listened. Nothing happened, and a fireball came zooming past her.
Suddenly there was a roar that echoed through the field. Off of a guymelef jumped Jewel, in her cat form. Zaiyane, slightly taken aback, moved backwards as Jewel landed in front of her. Jewel glanced behind her at Zaiyane. "Go, now!" She said. And then attacked.
Zaiyane turned and got into her guymelef as fast as she could, and flew off right behind Kendall and Lord Dilandau. Jewel made sure they were gone before backing off of Josh. She stood and looked at all of her victims. "Stop fighting me, I'm not here to fight," she said.
Kianna seemed taken aback. She extinguished the fireball in her hand and wiped the blood from her mouth. "Oh?"
"I am with Zaibach, but I am not loyal to them."
Josh snorted.
Jewel narrowed her eyes at him. "I am here to ask of your help. You want to attack Zaibach and get back your precious king. I am in Zaibach, and I want them gone. We can work together."
"How do we know you are not tricking us, like the spider and the fly?" Cle asked as Ally came up.
"Because I do not share Zaibach's plans. I am not in it because I want to make Gaea a better place. I am only there because they train me and keep me. If you help me, then I'll help you."
"How?" Ally asked.
"First I'll help you attack Zaibach. And then you'll help me, by asking your king to give me a temple of my choice, and a few soldiers. That's all I ask."
"Reasonable. But what do you want with the temple and soldiers?" Josh asked fiercely.
Jewel looked at him. "Simply to pay my debts to my God."
Kianna remained silent for a few seconds. "Alright, we'll help you. Contact us with this when you need us."
She threw Jewel a small compact disk. Jewel caught it and opened it. It had a small circular screen and a pad. She looked up at the group, only to find that they were gone. She gave a sly smile. Yes, they would work perfectly.
****
Kat was walking down the corridors when suddenly the alarm went off. "Incoming wounded, ready in the Medical Bay!" Nicole's voice shouted. Instantly Kat's fear came rising up within her. Jewel had done it. She turned and ran into the Medical Bay.
She got there just as the wounded were coming in. Zaibach soldiers were carrying some Slayers, while others were walking in. That's when she saw him. Dilandau was being carried in on a stretcher, with Kendall by his side. He looked terrible, huge bruises were forming al over him, his uniform was ripped, he had cuts all over him and he was bleeding badly.
"Get him over to bed 12!" She yelled at the medics. She went over to Kendall. She looked bad also. "Go, bed 3 is ready for you. We'll take it from here," she told her. Kendall nodded and walked off.
Alex and Nicole came running in. Viole, Miguel, Chesta, and Dallet also came. "Dallet, you help Nicole and I with Dilandau, bed 12! Viole, treat Heather, Sara, Zaiyane and Xenon! Miguel, Chesta, you get the rest! If anyone else comes in, assign them to patients! Let's go people!" Kat shouted. She, Nicole and Dallet all went over to Dilandau.
"Oh God, this is bad," Dallet muttered.
"Let's get to it. Nicole?" Kat asked.
"Nicole nodded. She closed her eyes and remained still. Dallet tied a surgeon mask over her mouth and nose, and he gave Kat one. Once the masks were in place, Kat handed out the surgeon shirts and gloves. She put on a shirt and then did the same with Nicole, and put on her gloves and Nicole's. Then they waited for Nicole.
She opened her eyes. "Broken leg, torn muscles all over, fractured ribs, shattered his shoulder, broken collarbone, huge sword cut, it ripped some of his internal organs, and he has a mild concussion." She said.
"Alright, let's get this done people." Kat said, and then set to work.
Five hours later Dallet, Kat, Viole and Nicole all pulled off their bloody gloves. They had called in Viole once they had begun surgery. It had taken them a long time, hours of precise work, dangerous chances, and very few words exchanged, but they had been able to save Dilandau's life. Kat was shaken, and she was having trouble removing her shirt.
So many times they had come dangerously close to losing him, and twice they thought they had. She was thankful that he was going to make a full recovery, but she was angry at the person who had caused him this pain. Who could've been good enough to get more then a scratch on him, let alone almost killing him?
Just then Nicole came over and helped Kat take off the surgeon shirt and mask. "Kat, I'll take you back to your room. We'll clean up," she said quietly.
Kat only nodded her head.
They walk back to Kat's room was quiet, no words spoken. Kat could feel Nicole's saddened and worried eyes on her the whole way, but she refused to speak. And Nicole respected that. The walk came to an end all to soon. Kat stood at her door for a second before entering. She quietly said good-night to Nicole and closed the door.
Blue watched her from his perch on Kat's bed and she changed and got into bed. Sensing that his master was troubled, he came over to her and laid next to her. Kat turned on her side and hugged him as she began to cry into his soft neck.
*~~*
TBC…
Author's Note: Well, how'd y'all like it? Please review and tell me what you thought! Oh yeah, I may leave fanfiction.net soon. I don't really want to explain my reasons, but I have a feeling I will leave. This is probably going to be my last fic that I ever write. If I do leave, half of everything will go to CrimsonFire, because she's the most awesome writer I've ever known and a great friend and fellow author. The other half will go to Lightning Wolf, a truly wonderful author, wonderful friend, and a great person. Well, thanks for reading!
-ShadowKat
Author's Note: Hey everyone! Okay, the last of the characters are in this chapter. I hope y'all like it! I'd like to dedicate this story to the following, Lightning Wolf, CrimsonFire, and Shadow. You have truly touched me, and I'm so lucky to have you as friends and fellow authors.
Chapter Twenty-One: Battles, Shadows and Powers
Sage Kurai sighed and shook her head. She was a 5'9" woman with long dark blue wavy hair, golden irises, and a golden-tan complexion. Trained as an assassin, she was the one of the best. Her companion, Nausikaa Garufo, stood beside her. Nausikaa was a tall, slender, pale woman with violet eyes and deep black ringlets-which were swept back from her face-and very full expressive lips. Both were dressed in the most comfortable black clothes.
"They'll never win. There's no advantage. Going into battle with a desire to die." Sage said quietly.
"Stupid people. Think we should interfere? I'd really hate to see so much talent go to waste." Nausikaa asked.
"Does the hawk hunt without reason?"
Nausikaa rolled her eyes. She hated Sage's cryptic responses. "No. So we'll wait until we have a reason to interfere."
Sage gave a small smile. Very good, she thought.
****
Dilandau sighed and put his head in his hand. They had landed in an abandoned field that Zaibach had captured from Austria. They had finally set up camp, after three hours of yelling instructions and slapping Slayers. He hated incompetence, and he hated lip. But that's what he got. His Slayers and Kat's Slayers seemed to be at each other's throats.
A sudden movement behind him caused him to whirl around. He stared into the bushes. For a few seconds nothing moved, and then it happened. Like a flash there was a girl in front of him. Instantly he recognized her as Ally, part of the Fanellian rogue band that were tracking them. He jumped to the side just as she released a blast of water from her hands at him.
"Siege! Everyone, Alpha three zero one nine!" He yelled over his shoulder just as Kianna, Josh, Vixen and Cle jumped from their hiding places and began to attack. Ally raised her hands and muttered something. Instantly a wall of water came up around Dilandau, trapping him within it. He gave a low growl and looked to his side as Ally entered the circle. They both drew their sword and went into fighting positions.
Nebula had teamed up with Xenon, Heather and Lacey. They were defending themselves against Kianna. Lacey was trying to summon an Earth Demon, while Nebula kept Kianna's attacks off Xenon. Another blast of fire shot forth from Kianna's mouth, and Nebula was barely able to deflect it with a blast of lightning. Her powers were dampened, and Nebula wasn't able to use most of her attacks.
"We need that demon now, Lacey!" Xenon yelled as she charged Kianna. Kianna defended herself with a dagger pulled out of her shirt. There was no response from Lacey, but suddenly four seven-feet tall Earth demons appeared around her. She opened her eyes and pointed at Kianna. Three of the demons obeyed her unspoken command, while the other one turned and ran into the battle.
"Get him back!" Nebula yelled at Lacey, while firing a bolt of lightning at Kianna.
"I can't! It's hard enough controlling three of them! I can't extend my powers enough and keep control of all of them."
Nebula growled and released another bolt of lightning.
Heather, Sara, Cameron and Rei were together, fighting Josh and Cle. Cameron had conjured up a small black bubble to keep Cle's water sprite's attacks off them, but was struggling with keeping it up. Rei was transformed into her black dragon. It was very menacing, she stood at twelve feet high, six across. Her wing span was nine feet wide, and she was using it to her advantage. Her red spiked back and hard scales were perfect for reflecting the stray attacks coming towards the others. And her flame-thrower was pushing the attackers back.
Sara was busy battling Josh, and Heather was using small balls of energy to help fend off Cle. "You guys, I can't keep this up!" Cameron yelled, her voice strained.
Rei roared, and began to back up.
"Retreat, we can't win! And you heard Lord Dilandau, Alpha three zero one nine!" Heather yelled.
Cameron dropped her shield and began to run towards the guymelefs with Heather and Sara right behind her. Rei took up the back, keeping the attackers back with balls of fire.
Zaiyane was by the guymelefs when an Earth demon suddenly appeared in front of her. It towered over her, ready to attack. She gasped and unthinkingly created a ball of fire and hit the demon. It screamed and disappeared, which was odd. Must be one of Lacey's, she thought.
Just then Sara, Heather, Cameron and Rei came running up. "Get in the guymelefs and return to base!" Zaiyane yelled as they headed towards their 'melefs. Rei took the time to change back and Zaiyane helped her get into her guymelef. The four of them took off.
It wasn't long before Lacey, followed by Nebula and Xenon, came up. Vixen, Cle, Josh, and Kianna were starting to come at them. "Who else are we missing?" Zaiyane asked as Xenon passed her.
"Oh God, Kendall and Lord Dilandau!" He said, freezing.
Zaiyane pushed him. "Go on! I'll get them!"
Xenon nodded and got into his guymelef. The three of them flew off. Zaiyane did a quick count in her head. Yes, the other Slayers had left first thing, and now the others were gone. Suddenly there was a loud pop, and Kendall and Lord Dilandau appeared. Kendall was supporting a very beaten Lord Dilandau, but there was no sign of how they had gotten there. And from the look of it, they seemed just as surprised as Zaiyane.
Kendall helped Dilandau towards his guymelef and Zaiyane turned towards the attackers. She pulled out her flute and raised it to her mouth. She played a few notes and paused. She listened. Nothing happened, and a fireball came zooming past her.
Suddenly there was a roar that echoed through the field. Off of a guymelef jumped Jewel, in her cat form. Zaiyane, slightly taken aback, moved backwards as Jewel landed in front of her. Jewel glanced behind her at Zaiyane. "Go, now!" She said. And then attacked.
Zaiyane turned and got into her guymelef as fast as she could, and flew off right behind Kendall and Lord Dilandau. Jewel made sure they were gone before backing off of Josh. She stood and looked at all of her victims. "Stop fighting me, I'm not here to fight," she said.
Kianna seemed taken aback. She extinguished the fireball in her hand and wiped the blood from her mouth. "Oh?"
"I am with Zaibach, but I am not loyal to them."
Josh snorted.
Jewel narrowed her eyes at him. "I am here to ask of your help. You want to attack Zaibach and get back your precious king. I am in Zaibach, and I want them gone. We can work together."
"How do we know you are not tricking us, like the spider and the fly?" Cle asked as Ally came up.
"Because I do not share Zaibach's plans. I am not in it because I want to make Gaea a better place. I am only there because they train me and keep me. If you help me, then I'll help you."
"How?" Ally asked.
"First I'll help you attack Zaibach. And then you'll help me, by asking your king to give me a temple of my choice, and a few soldiers. That's all I ask."
"Reasonable. But what do you want with the temple and soldiers?" Josh asked fiercely.
Jewel looked at him. "Simply to pay my debts to my God."
Kianna remained silent for a few seconds. "Alright, we'll help you. Contact us with this when you need us."
She threw Jewel a small compact disk. Jewel caught it and opened it. It had a small circular screen and a pad. She looked up at the group, only to find that they were gone. She gave a sly smile. Yes, they would work perfectly.
****
Kat was walking down the corridors when suddenly the alarm went off. "Incoming wounded, ready in the Medical Bay!" Nicole's voice shouted. Instantly Kat's fear came rising up within her. Jewel had done it. She turned and ran into the Medical Bay.
She got there just as the wounded were coming in. Zaibach soldiers were carrying some Slayers, while others were walking in. That's when she saw him. Dilandau was being carried in on a stretcher, with Kendall by his side. He looked terrible, huge bruises were forming al over him, his uniform was ripped, he had cuts all over him and he was bleeding badly.
"Get him over to bed 12!" She yelled at the medics. She went over to Kendall. She looked bad also. "Go, bed 3 is ready for you. We'll take it from here," she told her. Kendall nodded and walked off.
Alex and Nicole came running in. Viole, Miguel, Chesta, and Dallet also came. "Dallet, you help Nicole and I with Dilandau, bed 12! Viole, treat Heather, Sara, Zaiyane and Xenon! Miguel, Chesta, you get the rest! If anyone else comes in, assign them to patients! Let's go people!" Kat shouted. She, Nicole and Dallet all went over to Dilandau.
"Oh God, this is bad," Dallet muttered.
"Let's get to it. Nicole?" Kat asked.
"Nicole nodded. She closed her eyes and remained still. Dallet tied a surgeon mask over her mouth and nose, and he gave Kat one. Once the masks were in place, Kat handed out the surgeon shirts and gloves. She put on a shirt and then did the same with Nicole, and put on her gloves and Nicole's. Then they waited for Nicole.
She opened her eyes. "Broken leg, torn muscles all over, fractured ribs, shattered his shoulder, broken collarbone, huge sword cut, it ripped some of his internal organs, and he has a mild concussion." She said.
"Alright, let's get this done people." Kat said, and then set to work.
Five hours later Dallet, Kat, Viole and Nicole all pulled off their bloody gloves. They had called in Viole once they had begun surgery. It had taken them a long time, hours of precise work, dangerous chances, and very few words exchanged, but they had been able to save Dilandau's life. Kat was shaken, and she was having trouble removing her shirt.
So many times they had come dangerously close to losing him, and twice they thought they had. She was thankful that he was going to make a full recovery, but she was angry at the person who had caused him this pain. Who could've been good enough to get more then a scratch on him, let alone almost killing him?
Just then Nicole came over and helped Kat take off the surgeon shirt and mask. "Kat, I'll take you back to your room. We'll clean up," she said quietly.
Kat only nodded her head.
They walk back to Kat's room was quiet, no words spoken. Kat could feel Nicole's saddened and worried eyes on her the whole way, but she refused to speak. And Nicole respected that. The walk came to an end all to soon. Kat stood at her door for a second before entering. She quietly said good-night to Nicole and closed the door.
Blue watched her from his perch on Kat's bed and she changed and got into bed. Sensing that his master was troubled, he came over to her and laid next to her. Kat turned on her side and hugged him as she began to cry into his soft neck.
*~~*
TBC…
Author's Note: Well, how'd y'all like it? Please review and tell me what you thought! Oh yeah, I may leave fanfiction.net soon. I don't really want to explain my reasons, but I have a feeling I will leave. This is probably going to be my last fic that I ever write. If I do leave, half of everything will go to CrimsonFire, because she's the most awesome writer I've ever known and a great friend and fellow author. The other half will go to Lightning Wolf, a truly wonderful author, wonderful friend, and a great person. Well, thanks for reading!
-ShadowKat