Author's note: This may seem rather abrupt, but forgive me. I don't want to nit-pick over details like I have in the past. My goal is to get this finished to decent satisfaction. Hope you enjoy as much as I do!





Chapter 17: End of the Past


Things finally began moving forwards. Despite the shock over the sudden demise of Javier, the fractions if the Empire immediately quieted from their past squabbling. A few voiced concern over the fact that Alessandro had taken over the Mountain Forces, but the willingness of Everant to stand by the General smoothed the transition, as did the alliance between Drax Onusa and the merchant Ebi. With the first steps towards peace established, progress and hope were finally in sight. Perhaps now, true peace would keep hold of Gaia.

Hitomi almost skipped up the steps to the hanger where the Crusade waited. Emilee had finally recovered. After nearly two months, the word had finally gotten out that the apprentice was a woman. Many were shocked, but even more held her in higher esteem and gratitude for creating a system of government where the citizens would have a word in their future. That was her purpose for being here.

Hey Hit!

Emilee waved from the lookout on the levi-ship. Hitomi squinted up at her. She was still wearing her apprentice outfit, minus the leather armor.

Why are you up there when you aren't even outside?

Her friend smiled. It's fun to watch everyone down there. The climb wasn't so bad either. It felt good to finally be able to do something. She swung down from the lookout with only a hint of strain and landed on the deck. So what's up?

Hitomi could hardly contain herself. We're going home!

Emilee blinked. We're what?

She twirled in a circle. Today is the last day of negotiations. Everyone signs the dotted line for peace.

That's great! I can stop living out of a suitcase and a dorm room.

But that's not all, Hitomi stopped her energetic motions. There's going to be a dance the night after the signing.

A hand went to shoulder-leangth red curls. I don't know if my hair is decent enough.

We'll manage. But can you believe it? We're going home!

Emilee couldn't help teasing. And getting married. Heck girl, you're going to beat me to it!

For a moment Hitomi stared at her. Do you mean -

Realizing what she said, Emilee waved her hands franticly to cut her off. No, no, no, no, not like I'm getting married. I mean, I'm older than you and you're getting married before me.





Her face lit up as she turned.

Van took the steps two at a time. The signing is starting in an hour. You two had better get ready.

Emilee uncharacteristically shuffled her feet.

Um, I -um, don't think I'll go.

What? Emilee, you're the one who made this possible!

I know, and I'm sorry, but I just don't feel like I'm that important. I - She trailed off.

Hitomi watched her for a moment.

It's Allen, isn't it.

She blushed, but remained silent.

Van watched them both before stepping in front of Emilee. Holding out his hand, he solemnly, I will tell the new council that you weren't feeling well. After all, you just recovered from protecting one of the country's heroes. I think they'll understand.

She smiled and shook his hand.

*****************************

The New Council of Zaibach assembled in the Great Hall. The sky was still overcast, but light glowed pristine through the large window to fall on the constitution to be signed. Allen, Van, and the crew of the Crusade respectfully held their distance away from the table. Awaiting the final moment.

Hitomi couldn't help smiling at the circle of leaders as the pen to scribe their names began its historical rout. This was the future of the nation. People willing to commit. She glanced at Everant who stood stoically next to Alessandro at the head of the table. Those who were willing to trust. Drax Onusa paused before signing to look up at the General pointedly and then at the small Ebi, who smiled nervously. And those willing to sacrifice for the good of everyone.

Alessandro had been voted without question as the first President. He tried to decline, but when the people were presented with the choice and accepted it, he could not refuse. He immediately began making contracts with the other members of the council to establish new lines of communication, supplies, and the simple lifting of restrictions for the citizens. The pen reached his hand and he held it up. With a smile, he signed his name at the bottom, turned, and presented the writing utensil to an astonished Hitomi.

For the ones who made this possible. The saviors from the Mystic Moon, and our vision of the future.

The doors to the Great Hall slammed open. A thin figure stalked towards the table as everyone stared in shock.

Where is she?

Dilan's eyes glittered madly. His cloths were torn to shreds with dirt and grim plastered on what was left. Clutching a strange sword, he hissed.

Where is SHE!

Allen tensed, almost afraid of what the boy was talking about. He looked too similar to...

Alessandro quickly recovered and calmly asked. Where is who. Dilan?

At that name, Hitomi, Van, Allen, and the entire crew exclaimed.

Dilan ignored them, fixed on the General. I have discovered that Celena Schezar is my counterpart - my substitute. I had her, but she has been taken from me. WHERE IS SHE!!!

Allen tried to challenge him, but Van gained enough sense to hold him back. The knight growled. Celena is not here. What are you talking about. You can't touch her!

Dilan's partial control on his anger snapped.

She's here! He screamed. I can sense her. The Maker created us both. If you do not bring her to me, I'll kill the pathetic boy in the dungeon who calls himself her friend.

Allen froze in disbelief. You mean Jock? The overwhelming knowledge made Allen slow as he reached for his sword.

Dilan beat him, the point of his strangely curved blade pressed against the knight's throat. Suddenly strangely calm, he addressed him.

Celena is a part of me as I am of her. I will make her mine, or she and her friend will die. Don't make me add another to the list.

Alessandro slammed his hand on the table. Dilan, this goes against all orders of conduct as a soldier and as a citizen of the Empire.

Mad light shone in the boy's face as he turned to the General. But this is no longer an Empire thanks to you're betrayal. I am not a part of your alliance - your pitiful solution of joining the rabbit when you are the hunter. You defile the Master. I am all that is left of the TRUE Empire. I will have revenge for what these people have done. His gaze shifted to Hitomi and he smiled when she shivered.

Pure fury swept Alessandro. He stalked towards the creature of Fate, regardless of the other's weapon. Looming over him, he glared.

Dilan, I declare you exiled for unkightly conduct, threatening the peace we have worked so hard for the past two months, and for violation of our treaty and new government. You are hear-by stripped of all privileges and
any present and future titles you've declared yourself.

For an instant unease was visible on Dilan's face before a cold mask fell into place. He swept the assembly with his pale eyes and snarled. I am no longer a part of this. Your word is no good against me. You are unloyal, spineless cowards. There will be retribution. I challenge Allen Schezar to a duel.

Idiot! You have no chance against a Knight of Caeli.

Concerned for me now, are we, Drax Onusa? He sneered. Afraid your pet and little experiment will be destroyed? I am but a twist of Fate, but I will at least die doing what I was crafted for - upholding the Empire.

A soft voice broke through the growing tension.

It is commendable that you are so devoted to Dornkirk.

Everyone turned.

Celena Schezar stood poised like a glass butterfly at the door. But under her fragile beauty lay a subtle new strength. An oversized shirt fell from her shoulders and was belted by a sword which rested on her hip with ease as she stepped into the Great Hall. The soft footsteps echoed endlessly in the silent room as she walked towards them. She addressed Dilan who continued to gape at her.

You challenge my brother. Why not challenge me instead?

Allen, finally finding his voice, exclaimed. Celena! What are you doing here? How did you follow us?

She smiled complacently. I did not follow you, I hid on board the Crusade.

His eyes fell on the sword. You can't fight him, Celena. He'll win easily.

With strangely practiced ease she drew the blade. Because I am a woman, brother? You taught Lady Emilee quite well as I recall.

Allen had the grace to blush slightly. Before he could say anything more, Celena turned to Dilan.

I escaped your dungeon because you drove your victim too far. You rewarded him with death, for now he is in a happier place. You seem to make large of the fact that I used to be Dilandau, but have you forgotten his skills? Are you afraid to truly confront the one chosen over you?

Van, who had remained silent the entire time, leaned over to Allen. Do you think -?

His friend, tight lipped, shook his head. I don't know.

Dilan's smile was predatory. My dear Celena. How can I fear a part of myself? If you lose, you will be mine, to live or die or marry at my whim.

Allen flinched, but Celena stood firm. And if you lose, you will be subject to the new government my brother and friends have been working so hard to create.



Dilan wiped the excess dirt from his hands and waited.

Celena approached the conference table and its still stunned members. Circling around to Van, she gently kissed him on the cheek. Congratulations on the promise of you and Lady Hitomi.

Surprised, Van only looked at her.

Doing the same to Allen, she lingered to whisper, Forgive me, brother, but I know what must be done.

Delicately straightening her shirt, she turned to face the boy who was not truly human. A red tint flickered in the pale blue of her eyes as she drew her sword.

Yes, I was Dilandau. He will always be a part of me because I am he, and he is I. But now I am my own mind - he is but a memory.

Dilan's sword flashed and met hers with a clang. He attacked with his full weight, trying to dominate the battle. Allen tensed, fearing that his sister could not withstand the onslaught. Cooly, Celena parried each blow, holding her ground. When their swords locked, a faint sneer crossed her lips.

Fool. What did I tell you? Dilandau's skills are my own. You could never beat me.

She stepped back abruptly and broke the lock. Dilan, his entire weight behind his sword, stumbled forwards. Celena cracked him between the shoulders with her hilt, sending him crashing to the ground. He rolled and came back up. Again he charged, only this time when his thrust was parried, he twisted around and brought his own hilt into her chin. Reeling back, she whimpered.

Dilan leapt to finish, sword slashing down. At the last possible moment, Celena blocked his slash at her head. The blade nicked her right cheek, horizontal to the faint silver line already there. The red tinge flashed. She thrust away with amazing strength and for the first time put on an offensive. Dilan's eyes widened under her lightening fast strikes. He gave way, stepping further and further back. With a final clash and ring, Celena swung in a graceful curve that caught the hilt of her enemy and sent his sword flying. In blind terror, Dilan tripped and fell. Her face was set in stone as she said softly,

Dilandau has lived alone within me every day. Now he will be set free.

Dilan looked up at her, animal-like fear open in his crystal eyes. Celena raised her sword and stabbed down. The blade rang, buried in the stone floor and inch away from Dilan's neck. Leaving the sword upright, she stepped away, her gazed strangely sad.

I am Celena Schezar. I am no counterpart but a free woman - free to choose my own destiny.

*************************

I demand to know what the devil was that

Allen was in an understandable fury over the endangerment of his sister and the existence of another Fate-altered human. Dilan, in shock, had been taken back into custody down in the dungeons of the Empire's Pride. Celena had collapsed moments after he had been removed from the room and fell into a nearly comatose sleep. Presently Hitomi, Allen, Van, and Emilee were face to face with Alessandro and Drax Onusa. Alessandro looked pointedly at the scientist.

You should have told them in the beginning, Drax.

I told you that this could have happened, but you didn't listen.

I thought you could handle him.

I did! That is until you took him to his mortal enemies.

Van cleared his throat. I know you both have done what you thought best, and now is not the time to think about what might have been done. I think we are owed an explanation about who Dilan is.

Alessandro sighed. It is a long story and I'm sorry for it to have come out like this. We had hoped he would never have been discovered. I underestimated him. I thought he was insane - unable to plot against us. He worked under the cover of Javier's interference.

Allen's eyes narrowed in frustration. But who IS he? What is he?

Onusa stared at the small energist in his hand, watching the light fracture within it. He is a result of the first Destiny manipulation. My colleagues and I tried to make an incarnation of Fate energy. The experiment failed. Dilan is mad. He should have been destroyed immediately - I see that now. But Dornkirk found him amusing.

Amusing!? A thing like that was amusing?

Hitomi placed a consoling hand on Allen's arm. Turning to the scientist, she spoke with a deep note of sadness. You seem like a decent man, Onusa. How could you let something live that should never have been created?

The thin man clinched his fist around the crystal. I was blind with ambition. I wanted to know if man could change their Destiny. I wanted to know if this was the kind of world we were really meant for and not something greater.

Van broke in. Yet you used children.

I could not stop them. If it's any consolation, I would not participate in experimenting on them. I did research, the paperwork, and the presentations, but I could not bring myself to do more than that.

Allen scowled.

Not much justification, I know, but it was the only line I would not cross. I suppose that is why I am still alive while the others died over their expectations. If there really is a Fate, then I guess mine is to help Zaibach past the horrors I assisted to overshadow it.

What about my sister? Why is it she started hearing Dilandau? How did Dilan find out about her?

Drax Onusa seemed to shrink under the interrogation, as if the secrets within him that had festered were finally being purged, leaving nothing but a worn man behind. They changed her Fate, which changed her. We are what Fate makes us, and when that is redirected, we become a different person. But if the twist is broken, the rest of the enforced Destiny is broken and the natural - the original Fate is restored.

Hitomi's eyes widened in realization. That was when Folken...

Onusa nodded. When Stratagos killed the Emperor, Celena was restored because her Fate had been engineered with his ideals. That link was broken when he died. I suppose she was fighting it at the same time.

Allen still wasn't convinced. So why did she start hearing Dilandau?

Because Dilan was looking for her. She is still sensitive to her Destiny twist and When Dilan began searching for her, she began hearing who she once was. It's a sort of resonance with Fate. But Dilan felt that resonance and put some direction to his madness. They are being pulled together by their similar twist.

For the first time Emilee, who was still scrambling to understand, asked. Well, Celena defeated him, so that's that. Right?

Onusa didn't answer.

Alessandro glared. It can be stopped, can't it?

The other sighed, the last secret coming to light. You either must keep Celena out of Dilan's reach, or he must be killed. Death is the only permanent solution I can come up with because no matter how far you go, he will search for her.

Silence followed. Hitomi slowly looked around the room.

I think we are all tired of death. Celena made the choice to let him live, so we will leave Dilan in your hands.

Alessandro cleared his throat gruffly. I think there are enough grounds for an execution or lifelong imprisonment for his actions after you leave. I will no longer be blind to his conspiracies.

Van bowed formally. Thank you, Alessandro. We hope to be on our way home within the next few days.

The General smiled. Not before you accept Zaibach's gratitude tomorrow night. I know you are anxious to be on your way, but I insist to send you off in glory.




Author's note:
Thank you Ron and his Sakura! Thank you everyone else and please don't be insulted that I don't include your names but it takes too much time and I don't have a lot of it.
I'm not done yet!!! Don't give up! Remember my opening poem? Big giveaway in there!