asalways04.html A Quick A/N: Before anyone asks me about the "seven moons", here's the explanation- I go by the theory that a "moon" on Gaea equals a day. So there.

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The package from my father arrives seven moons into our guymelef training. It's evening, and Kestrel is sitting below me, attempting to plunk out a decent tune on that guitar of his. Guymelef traingin doesn't allow much time for guitar practice, but he still isn't half bad.

The package includes three books- one is a history of guymelefs and guymelef design, a second is a book on swordfighting similar to the other one, and finally, my favorite storybook from childhood, which I used to sit with on the front steps of our house when I was a little girl. It's a collection of stories, and I'm happy to have it back- even if it looks odd sitting in between the two other books.

But there is also another package, too long and thin to be books. I open it tentatively. Could it be...?

As I pull open the box, I see a piece of paper folded in half. I unfold it.

My dearest daughter,

I am sending this along with the books because I know you have more need for it than I. I have no need or desire to rejoin the army, and I know that you will carry on the traditions of bravery and skill that the Zarains have carried through time. I only hope that you will learn from my mistakes.

Use this sword wisely, Cherandle.

All my love,

Your father, Arvan Zarain

I take out the sword. It's gorgeous. The handle is gold with green highlights, and in the center is what looks like a crest- A golden Z on a black background, with some sort of green bird flying behind the Z.

I notice that there is more writing on the back of the letter. I turn it over...

I suppose I should explain to you our family crest. if you look at the butt of the handle you should notice a word.

I look. Inscribed in black is a single word...

REBORN

I turn back to the letter.

This word is our family motto. It reminds us that no matter how extreme things are- whether they are bleak or terrifying or joyous or honorable- they can always be reborn again, stronger than they were before. And as each tradition is passed on, it is reborn with each generation. That is why our symbol is a phoenix, and why the color is green, the color of renewal.

I am now passing this sword to you Cherandle. The tradition is reborn, as it rightly should have been, and as it always will be.

I hold the letter to my heart.

"What's that?" It's Gatti's voice. He is looking over the edge of his bed.

"It's my father's sword," I half-whisper. My father's sword!

I take another look at the Zarain family crest... The family crest!... and hang the sword on the opposite side of the bedframe from my childhood sword. I fold the letter back in half and slip it into the inside cover of the swordfighting book.

*

"You feeling all right, Kestrel?"

Kestrel carefully rubs his left cheek, "Yeah. I think I'll survive."

We're just finished a mock battle with part of the Chimera Regiment, and all the Dragon Slayers are hanging out in the corridor.

"Wonder why he didn't hit you," Kestrel says, a hint of both jealousy and curiosity in his voice. He is referring to the fact that he and I, well... Bent orders a bit to "take out" the Chimera HQ. Dilandau was pretty angry.

"Probably because it was your idea," I reply, giving his shoulder a playful shove.

I myself receive a playful smack on the back of my head. It's from Migel, who's standing right next to me, "Maybe he doesn't hit his female recruits," he says with a joking tone, "Cause he knows you're all such weaklings." I stick my tongue out at him. He repeats the gesture.

"Hey, maybe he likes you!" Corran shouts from across the group. That remark sends us all into peals of laughter.

We know that Lord Dilandau would be in a rage if he heard any of this, but we're all in high spirits from our "victory". If this is what it feels like to win a fake battle, I can't wait until we go for real. I suppose I get that from my father- the thrill I get during a battle, that is.

Corran smoothes back his hair. He steps up backwards onto the first rung of the railing, "Hear ye, hear ye!" he shouts very eloquently, "I hereby challenge any he who has the nerve... Or who just needs to blow off some steam... To a duel in the sword combat training room!"

Alix laughs theatrically, "Ha, ha! I accept your challenge!"

Corran jumps down and the two of them run off, the rest at their heels. Gatti shouts to me, "Hey, Cherandle, you coming?"

"In a second!" I call back. I watch them run off a bit, then look down over the edge of the railing.

Then, I look up again. Lord Dilandau is walking along the walkway at the other end of the corridor. Suddenly he stops and turns to look at me. Our eyes meet from across the gap.

I feel myself blushing and look away. But suddenly I remember myself, and slowly stand up straight until I'm at attention. But he has already turned away and has begun to walk on.

I look down again. Corran's words echo in my head. Hey, maybe he likes you... I smile and shake my head. Corran and his jokes...

I turn and run to catch the others.

*

A soldier interrupts our training.

We've been working with our guymelefs for some time now... It's really not as hard as I thought. The controls are quite simple, once you get used to them.

We are in the middle of mock one-on-one battles- I'm fighting Palem- when the soldier runs in. Dilandau gets out of his guymelef and goes to speak with the soldier, who eventually leaves. Dilandau orders up all out of our guymelefs.

After we have all gotten out and are standing at attention in front of him, Dilandau begins to speak.

"We have received news from our spies that the prince of Fanelia is leaving to perform his rite of passage," he says, "And this unit has been selected to lead off the search for the Dragon." Dragon- the nickname for Escaflowne used in Zaibach. No words are spoken- but I can feel a current of excitement running through all the Dragon Slayers. We all know what this means- that the Empire is recognizing us as a skilled unit. I can see the same feeling of pride reflected in Dilandau's eyes as well. "We will leave tomorrow to begin the attack on Fanelia. So today is our last chance to train. that means I want to see you all working your hardest. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir!" We exclaim in unison.

"Excellent," he says with a smirk, "Resume training immediately."

As we all start making our way back to our melefs, Palem turns to me. "A real battle?" She has a gentle, quiet voice.

"Yeah," I say, leaning against my melef, "Why? You nervous?" I'm not mocking her, it's just that she seems edgy.

"Well... yeah, kind of," she says, "I mean, one of the reasons I came here was because of my fear of violence, and well..."

"Your parents aren't military?"

"Oh, they are." She says, "That's why I joined. I didn't want to let them down."

"But you don't seem too afraid of Lord Dilandau," I say with an encouraging smile. Dilandau's just gotten into his melef.

"Well... no." It almost seems as if she's realizing this for the first time, "I guess I figured if those other guys could take it, so can I." She begins walking back to her Alseides.

I jump up onto my melef to begin the climb up to the control chamber, "Maybe you never had a fear of violence in the first place," I say.

She stops walking for a moment, her back to me.

"Maybe not." I hear her say as she resumes walking.

*

"I just can't believe it!" Viole exclaims, "A real battle already!"

"Speak for yourself," says Rafael, "I was one of the first to join. Think of how long I waited just to get a stinkin' guymelef."

Alix speaks up, "If your guymelef stinks, Rafael, that's your own fault!" That makes us all laugh.

It's dinnertime, and the whole table is buzzing with talk of tomarrow's journey. I'm sitting in between Viole and Kestrel. Across from me is Migel.

"Wonder what the Dragon looks like," Gatti, sitting to Migel's right, muses.

"I don't think anybody really knows that except the people of Fanelia," says Malenla with a lofty tone, "And it hasn't been seen outside of Fanelia for years. There are rumors that it's a very beautiful guymelef."

"So it's beautiful," Corran says flippantly, "What the heck's Emperor Dornkirk want it for, anyway?"

Viole shrugs, "Beats me. What would he want with a 'melef that could only be operated by a Fanelian king, anyway?"

"Oh, that's just a story," Julie scoffs.

"How do you know?" Viole retorts, "Maybe it's Ispano."

"'They say', 'they say'..." Migel mutters. he looks up from his meal, "Just what do we know about this thing , anyway?"

"We know that it looks different from any other guymelef," says Kestrel, "We also know it'll be coming out of the royal shrine."

"Good enough for me," says Rafael.

*

We leave early the next morning. It's a ways to Fanelia, and we want to use the guymelefs as much as possible- a Floating Fortress is risky, even when it's cloaked.

No conversation takes place as we travel. Save the footsteps of our melefs, we are completely silent as well as invisible.

And so, we finally reach the walls of Fanelia's main compound. The first thing we see are two guards up on a balcony.

Dilandau gives the order: "Gatti- Take 'em out."

Gatti fires three crima claws, which tear through the wooden building- and the men, for that matter.

The battle has begun.

We advance into the city, and a few soldiers of Fanelia have run out to investigate. one or two of them get underfoot- literally.

As we advance further, Dilandau instructs us to strike at will at any enemy melefs- but to keep our flamethrowers dormant. What we have to do first is find the Dragon.

It takes the Fanelian people a bit of time to get their guymelefs out- but once they do, I am again caught up in the heat of battle. Sweat covers my brow from operating the Alseides, my pulse pounds at the excitement of slipping stealthily through the city, I feel a surge of victory every time I defeat an enemy soldier. On the surface, I appear nervous and exhausted. Inwardly, I'm in my element. I truly have my father's warrior blood.

A voice comes over the communications system: "The Dragon has been located." It's Chesta's voice.

"Excellent work," Dilandau replies, "All right men, start up the flamethrowers! Burn everything in a circle around the shrine so he can't escape!"

I aim my melef's right arm at a building- and feel a split-second pang of guilt. This isn't an enemy soldier or base I'm destroying- It's people's homes.

I swallow. "For lord and country," I say, and open fire. The flames shoot out from the arm of my guymelef in glorious plumes, devouring the surrounding buildings. I turn just in time to see, through the doorway of what must be the royal shrine, a stealth cloak being torn to shreds. Someone's been discovered- Lord Dilandau is not going to like this...

The guymelef battling whoever's just been found out is unlike any I've ever seen- a truly beautiful design.

That must be Escaflowne!

I attempt at firing a claw in order to aide my troubled comrade, but there's a jam in my system, as I soon find out by peeking at the gauge.

I advance towards the shrine. As I near it, I see that two more Alseides units have been stripped of their cloaks, and two greatly damaged. Damn. This guy's good. The third Alseides is currently engaged in combat with the Dragon... That is until a man with a very large sword leaps between them. The Dragon turns and walks out into the Fanelian streets. But the man with the large sword has leapt upon the guymelef of my fellow Dragon Slayer. My crima claw system is still jammed, but I have an idea- I only hope my Energist doesn't overwork.

I flip the heat lever to maximum and watch the gauge as the heat rises. I'll only have one shot...

Almost... Almost...

There!

I take careful aim and fire. The tiniest bit of liquid metal, which slipped past the jam, flies on a straight and true course, slicing the man through the stomach. "Yes!" I flip the heat lever down again- My plan worked.

"We've got him!" Dilandau's voice comes over the communicator, "Everyone near the shrine reveal yourselves- let's surround the Dragon and capture him!"

I flip the switch in the right arm, and the stealth cloak is deactivated. I step outside the shrine. About four other Alseideses are visible, and have now surrounded the Escaflowne. the Dragon is in our clutches.

When suddenly- a bright burst of light spouts from beneath the Escaflowne. A bean of brilliant white light surrounds it, and when it fades, the Dragon is gone.

More Alseides units have arrived by now in order to see what's happening, and to my left, Dilandau's red guymelef becomes visible.

Our commander's words seem to sum up everyone's current thoughts:

"Damn!... Where'd he go?"

*

We arrive back at the Vione empty-handed, with two guymelefs badly damaged- Chesta's and Dalet's to be precise. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Dilandau is less than pleased. And yet, all he says when we have returned and are standing at attention is- "Rafael- Kestrel- step forward and come with me." the two of them step out of formation with looks on their faces that show them to be just as confused as the rest of us.

"The rest of you are dismissed." Dilandau adds as he turns to leave. I study his face as he says is, and all I can read there is: 'Whoever trashed their guymelefs better reveal themselves QUICK if they want to live to see tomorrow.' there is a feeling of uneasiness among the Dragon Slayers after Dilandau, along with Rafael and Kestrel, have gone.

Palem finally breaks the silence.

"Wonder why he took those two?"

"I don't know." Migel answers.

"Maybe he thinks THEY'RE they ones whose guymelefs were damaged?" Alix wonders aloud.

"No." I shake my head. My eyes are still glued to the door of the landing dock, "He knows who is was. He's got to."

"We'd better go report to him," says Viole. Everyone's eyes shift to Chesta and Dalet.

Chesta sighs, "Ok, let's go."

As we exit the landing dock and start towards Dilandau's throne room, I feel someone tap me on the arm. I look and see Julie walking next to me.

"Hey," she says. i wonder why she's talking to me. She's usually just hanging around with Malenla.

"Uh, hey." I reply.

"Listen..." she says, "That was a real good job you did back there. You totally saved my ass, so... Thanks."

"How did you know it was me?" I ask.

Her face slowly shifts into a smirk, "Your shout of triumph."

"Ah," I grin. But here the conversation ends. We've reaches Dilandau's throne room. Chesta and Dalet take the front and open the door.

"...Sir?" Chesta asks nervously. Dilandau is in the room, sitting on his throne. Rafael and Kestrel stand on either side of the throne, looking rather smug. We were later to discover that they had been commended for good work on the battlefield today.

We walk in and take a formation with Viole, Gatti, Guimel, Migel, and of course Chesta and Dalet, at the front.

Dilandau knows. He must know. Still, his eyes fix on Chesta and Dalet and he says:

"What are THESE two doing here?"

He's enjoying this, I realize. he's playing us, trying to make us believe that we'd actually be able to save out skins if we hadn't come forward, even though not coming would have been very dishonorable. I feel sorry for Chesta and Dalet. They're forced to explain the whole thing. by the end of it, Dilandau is leaning to one side in his seat and appears rather bored... The way he always looks when he's just heard something he doesn't like. All we can do now is wait for the explosion.

"So am I to understand," he begins, not moving an inch, "That you let those bumpkin samurai damage two of my Alseides units?"

The six Slayers in the front of the group get to their knees and bow, "Forgive us."

There is what seems like a long pause.

Dilandau stands up, "Step forward."

Then, what we were all waiting to happen happens- both Chesta and Dalet receive a strike to the face. They fall to the floor.

"You had stealth cloaks! How could you let this happen? Are you trying to ruin my name?!"

Chesta and Dalet get painfully back to their knees, "Forgive us," they say again.

"I'm only going to say this once," says Dilandau, 'I won't tolerate incompetence in my Dragon Slayers. Do you understand?"

"...Yes, sir..."

"You are all dismissed." Dilandau says in an almost disgusted tone of voice as he heads back to his throne.