Author's note: Hmmm….I'm getting reviews, thank's people, but it would be nice to hit a few more ;) Just for teasers, here's hint of what's to come. This is short, but very meaningful.



Chapter 9: Past and Present



A wind bottle smashed the wall behind Yumi, spraying him with liquid and glass.

"They did WHAT?"

Yumi trembled. "Master, General Alessandro has turned back to the Deadlands. The are going to meet those willing to make an alliance."

Dilan began pacing wildly, twisting his hair in one hand. "Alessandro will have me watched at all times. Hell put me back in that dungeon of his. I have to get out." His eyes flashed and he grinned. "That's it! I'll get out!"

Yumi looked up fearfully. "But where will you go, Master? You cannot pilot a guymeleph."

Immediately he cringed, fearing a blow, but Dilan merely cocked his head and considered the problem.

"I will hide until we land." He grinned again. "No wait," He whirled on Yumi. "Who is coming to negotiate?"

Yumi thought franticly. " The scroll had the Fanalian crest on it, but I heard something about and envoy from Fried and Asturia coming too."

Dilan hissed. "Of course – Allen Schezar. He is the only one who has connections to those kingdoms." He laughed madly. "Allen Schezar, Heavenly Knight! Ha! Ha! Ha!" From day to night his humor changed. "Wait!" Again Yumi cringed. "Schezar…. I know that name. Oh yes…. Celena.… Dilandau…. I nearly forgot." He continued pacing. "Perhaps I will wait. I'll steal aboard their ship. I will find Celena myself sense the idiots I hired missed their chance and brought me that pitiful substitute of a boy."

"But they say he is a close friend of – "

"I know what they say!" Silver eyes flamed.

Yumi sprawled across the cold metal floor, sent by a cruel foot.

"Perhaps I'll slit his throat just for your impudence!" Dilan paused in his assault, a crafty gleam entering his madness. "Perhaps…. Perhaps I can use him. Yes!" He turned and walked to the door. Grabbing the soldier standing outside he hissed. "Keep that boy in the dungeon alive. If he's dead when I call for him, so will you."

"Yes – yes sir!" The soldier scrambled to obey.

A glossy bit of reddish-gold caught the eye of a passing bird. It paused to take a closer look. The strand of red twisted in a puff of wind. The bird blinked and darted closer. It caught up the lock of hair, thinking that it would make a nice addition to its nest.

"There, we're finished."

The ground was scattered with long red curls. Emilee tossed her head. "This feels so strange. It doesn't feel like anything's left."

Looking in the mirror, she stared at a strange face. Her hair had been cut short and restyled. The only things faintly familiar were her eyes, nose and mouth. She grinned. "I really think I could pass as a boy."

Millerna ran a brush on final time through her hair. "We'll have to bind your chest and teach you how to walk like a man, but I think you could make it as an apprentice or page."

Emilee gave Millerna and Hitomi a mock salute before swaggering before them. "Wait till the guys get a look at this."

"Uh, I think one of them already has."

Allen Schezar stood in the entrance of the garden and bowed. "Ladies." He froze, eyes narrowed at the sight of the shorn head of Emilee. She started to grin before he exploded.

"What have you done?"

Her smile faltered. "Well, sense we're going to the Zaiback Empire, we figured – "

Hitomi interrupted. "We thought that sense they know that I'm from the Mystic Moon, they may try and do something to Emilee if they find out that she's from the same place."

Millerna continued. "So we decided that we could make her a page or squire or apprentice to you."

Allen angrily said, "Do you know how impossible that is A woman, pretending to be a man… What if she is challenged to a duel, or forced into a situation?"

Emilee's chin came up. "Then you can teach me how to duel, and I can handle the situations as they come."

"Teach a woman how to swordfight?" Allen scoffed. "That isn't possible."

Blue-green eyes sparked fiercely. "Isn't possible? You and you're arrogance, Allen Schezar. From where I come from, men and women are treated equally. I guess Gaea isn't everything it seems."

Allen shot back. "Where are you now? You're here where a woman is to keep her status as a lady. The way of a man is not to be taken lightly."

"What, are you afraid I might be good at it?"

"No, I'm afraid you will ruin everything."

"I don't think you're the one to judge."

Hitomi began looking uncomfortable. "Emilee…. "

"In fact, I think you're the one who's messed up a lot of things with you're past history."

Allen looked completely shocked. Millerna turned red and covered her mouth as Hitomi grabbed her teacher and friend's arm to hush her. Blushing, she apologized. "I'm sorry Allen. I had to tell her to explain everything fully." She elbowed Emilee before she could make things worse.

The Knight's face became a hard neutral. "I understand, Hitomi, I only wish you could have picked a more delicate person to reveal secrets to."

Emilee crossed her arms. "Oh, I'm hurt."

Hitomi elbowed her again. "Allen, we've already begun our plan, and you have to agree our reasons for doing so are valid. It won't work unless you help by teaching her something."

He gave slightly. "I teach those with at least some experience."

"Who says I haven't?"

Allen's lip twitched. "The way you put that sword on. Your entire body says you've never worn a weapon before."

"You conceited – "

"Allen," Millerna broke in. "Just teach her enough to make this disguise pass. Please?"

He turned with and exasperated sigh. "We'll see what she can do on the way to Zaibach."

Drax Onusa toyed with a fist-sized gem. The energist had been set in a small experimental Fate machine. The machine was useless, able only to work on rodents. Twirling the crystal, the scientist gazed sadly over the Deadlands. Such a waste of life had occurred here. It only reaffirmed his conclusion that Fate-changing caused too much destruction. The death of Strategos Folken, whom he had admired, opened his eyes fully to the dangers of the unnatural.

The echo of smashing glass reached Drax's ears. Sighing, he left the viewpoint ad wound his way through the twisting hallways of the bowels of the fortress.

"Dilan, what is it now?"

The creature, Drax refused to think of him as human, turned and cocked his head. Bizarre silver eyes glittered.

"We've stopped, Onusa. Why?"

"It is only for a moment. The General is expecting a message and no one can keep up with a fortress moving at full speed."

"A message? Once there was one who could keep up with a fortress. Why can't they?"

Drax shook his head. "No one can do that, Dilan. Your creator's works are very well designed."

"Escaflowne did."

Drax stiffened. "Yes it did. But that was during the war. We're not at war any more, Dilan."

"Not at war? Onusa, you disappoint me. The Master would not approve."

The sorcerer and scientist stood over the creature angrily. "I will not be baited by your obsessions, Dilan. None of this is your concern. It never has been, nor ever will be. Now I suggest you forget the war and Escaflowne and go back to your mindless prowling." Drax stepped through the door before turning back. "And don't tough anyone."

As the ward's footsteps slowly echoed away, Dilan reached under his cot of a bed and drew out a sword. Strangely curved in a moon wave, it winked coldly in the lamplight.

"Wrong, Onusa, I will never forget the war or my duty and loyalty. And I will touch someone, and the world will know of it."

Drax Onusa ignored the maniacal laughter that followed him from the cold depths into the warm sunlight.

Celena returned to her room and quickly began gathering her things. Carefully folding two sets of cloths in a large sash, she changed into the street outfit from the night before. Slipping down to the kitchen, she gathered up a supply of hard bread, dried meat, and preserved fruit. Tossing it all into a canvas bag, Celena glanced around cautiously. Only one last thing to do.

Moving back to the house, she crept into her brother's study. Reverently she took down the sheath that held her father's belt knife. Unsheathing the blade, she admired the dark waves in the metal, like water rippling over rocks. She smiled before resheathing it and tucking the knife into her belt.

Catching sight of herself in the hallway mirror, Celena paused. She almost looked like a skinny boy with long silver hair. A whisper of strange laughter in her mind made her flinch but she frowned in determination. She would find her past, and if necessary, confront it. Whatever was wrong with her – whatever happened to her in those years she lost – she would find out. The mysteries of her life would finally be uncovered.

"Zaibach, here I come." She whispered. "Wait for me Jock."



P.S. from the Author:

No there is nothing romantic going on between Celena and Jock. Consider Jock as a sort of replacement for the Dragonslayers. I'm also following the stereotype that Redheads have bad tempers. Yes, the shot Emilee made to Allen was harsh, and unfair, but I thought he needed a slap in the face for character sake. You can get mad, but it works out. Review me!