A/N: HEY!!!! ff.net is up!!! YAY!!!! * dances * it's been a while!! I have
a bunch more chapters to put up, so I think I'll add a second one later
today.. Well anyways, I need MORE REVIEWS!!!!!!! * goes into review
withdrawl * please help me.. ^^
Over the next several days, Van and Kendai became fast friends. Van saw that Kendai attended all council meetings, and helped him become comfortable in the palace. They were rarely seen out of each other's company. Every night, they met each other on the roof to talk, and have a late-night sparring session. As Kendai adjusted to life at the palace, he became less cool and secretive. He laughed and cavorted with Merle, talked swords with Allen, looked over the Crusade with Gaddes, and made friends with the crew and the palace servants.
Van fidgeted in the council room, as they discussed the quickly growing threat of the approaching Zaibach forces. "My scouts report that the army is only a day and a half away, and the foregaurd Melefs should be here tomorrow morning, or very late tonight!" Lord Karo stood, facing the council. "We must act quickly!" Lord Vordon cleared his throat. "We must set the army up in defensive formation! Reargaurd against the castle, branching out in a-" "No!" Van surprised everyone with his outburst. The Councilors muttered, and all looked at Van. Kendai, and Allen both smiled reassuringly, but there was worry and strain on their faces too. Van closed his eyes for a minute. "May I remind everyone of the attack during the coronation?! Zaibach's success lay in the surprise attack! Therefore, we can use the same tactic on them! We must surprise them. Do the one thing they would not expect!" The councilors muttered, but this time it was with approval. Van pounded his fist on the table. "We must attack Zaibach!"
Van looked at the still form of his Guymelef, Escaflowne. //You waited too long. You tried to believe Zaibach was really gone. You tried to deny the truth by immersing yourself in pointless councils, when you should have been readying for this. You're a fool, a coward, and unfit to rule.// Van cursed his inner voice, as he felt a rush of guilt, fear, and stress. He walked towards Escaflowne, praying that he still remembered how to work the thing. He grabbed the energist off its pedestal, wincing as he blew off the cobwebs and dust. He walked up to Escaflowne, and hesitated, looking at the immense Guymelef, remembering the last time he had used it, during the Great War. A soft step behind him interrupted his thoughts. He turned to find Kendai walking towards Escaflowne. His friend understood the thoughts going on in Van's head, and he put a hand on Van's shoulder. "Come now. Don't worry about anything. I'll have things under control here." Van had asked Kendai to command the forces that were guarding the castle while the main force attacked. Van nodded, and gently inserted the energist into the Guymelef. Escaflowne glowed for a moment, then faded back. But something was different. It looked more regal, more powerful, and ready for battle. Van squared his shoulders and climbed in.
Van met Allen at the castle gates. Allen was in Scheharazad, sword unsheathed. The main part of Fanelia's army spread out behind them, ready for action. In a brief moment of hesitation, Van looked behind him. Aqua eyes met his searching ones. Kendai held his gaze for a moment, then drew his sword and saluted the King. Van raised his chin and held up his sword. "Folken!" he yelled, and charged forward. The men echoed the cry, and followed behind him. Merle ran along side them until they rounded a bend in the road and vanished from sight. "Zaibach, here we come." Muttered Kendai.
With a shower of sparks, Van met the enemy Melef's blow, and turned it aside. He parried another blow, thrust his sword into the attacking Melef, and stepped back. The Melef fell, blazed blue, and disintegrated. Van turned to meet another opponent. Fanelia's forces met Zaibach about two or three hours from the castle. The opposing force had been bigger than anyone had expected. Zaibach had thirty Melefs, and 60,000 ground troops. Fanelia had a maximum of 40,000 men, and ten Melefs. They were outnumbered, and in deep trouble. Van disintegrated another enemy, and looked around. Things were not going well. Fanelia was holding it's own, but casualties were huge, and the men were tiring. They had been fighting now for an hour, and there were only five Melefs, including Escaflowne and Scherezad, still in the fight. A scream from Van's left made him wince. //Make that four Melefs left.// There was a loud crash, and Van whirled. What he saw made him cry out. Scherezad was down, and not moving. "Allen!" yelled Van. He charged towards his friend, oblivious to everything else. A Melef stepped in his way, but he cut it down without even noticing it. He felt something bit into his arm, and he could see an enemy Melef with a bloody sword. Van turned, and found he was boxed in, surrounded by enemy Melefs. //So. This is the end.// Van's thought didn't seem to disturb him, but he had a feeling that it should. He felt disconnected from the world. Everything was in slow motion, and he felt like he was trying to run underwater. A black Melef stepped forward, dark sword gleaming darkly in the red light. //This guy must be the leader. Hiding behind his dogs until victory is gaurenteed.// They faced off, swords in "guard" position. Van met the first blow of the leader by reflex. The effort made his muscles scream, and Escaflowne groan. //It's like when I tried fencing with Allen back at the fort in Asturia. Or Balgus.// Van focused all his attention on the other Melef. //Strike.Block.Strike.Strike.// Van was so focused, that he didn't see the other Melefs in the ring begin to move. He suddenly became aware of them, when a sword stuck itself in his left knee. //Shit.// He stumbled backwards, and went down on one knee. The black Melef advanced, sword streaking towards him almost to fast to see. //The end.// Suddenly, something appeared between Van and the black Melef. //What the-//
Over the next several days, Van and Kendai became fast friends. Van saw that Kendai attended all council meetings, and helped him become comfortable in the palace. They were rarely seen out of each other's company. Every night, they met each other on the roof to talk, and have a late-night sparring session. As Kendai adjusted to life at the palace, he became less cool and secretive. He laughed and cavorted with Merle, talked swords with Allen, looked over the Crusade with Gaddes, and made friends with the crew and the palace servants.
Van fidgeted in the council room, as they discussed the quickly growing threat of the approaching Zaibach forces. "My scouts report that the army is only a day and a half away, and the foregaurd Melefs should be here tomorrow morning, or very late tonight!" Lord Karo stood, facing the council. "We must act quickly!" Lord Vordon cleared his throat. "We must set the army up in defensive formation! Reargaurd against the castle, branching out in a-" "No!" Van surprised everyone with his outburst. The Councilors muttered, and all looked at Van. Kendai, and Allen both smiled reassuringly, but there was worry and strain on their faces too. Van closed his eyes for a minute. "May I remind everyone of the attack during the coronation?! Zaibach's success lay in the surprise attack! Therefore, we can use the same tactic on them! We must surprise them. Do the one thing they would not expect!" The councilors muttered, but this time it was with approval. Van pounded his fist on the table. "We must attack Zaibach!"
Van looked at the still form of his Guymelef, Escaflowne. //You waited too long. You tried to believe Zaibach was really gone. You tried to deny the truth by immersing yourself in pointless councils, when you should have been readying for this. You're a fool, a coward, and unfit to rule.// Van cursed his inner voice, as he felt a rush of guilt, fear, and stress. He walked towards Escaflowne, praying that he still remembered how to work the thing. He grabbed the energist off its pedestal, wincing as he blew off the cobwebs and dust. He walked up to Escaflowne, and hesitated, looking at the immense Guymelef, remembering the last time he had used it, during the Great War. A soft step behind him interrupted his thoughts. He turned to find Kendai walking towards Escaflowne. His friend understood the thoughts going on in Van's head, and he put a hand on Van's shoulder. "Come now. Don't worry about anything. I'll have things under control here." Van had asked Kendai to command the forces that were guarding the castle while the main force attacked. Van nodded, and gently inserted the energist into the Guymelef. Escaflowne glowed for a moment, then faded back. But something was different. It looked more regal, more powerful, and ready for battle. Van squared his shoulders and climbed in.
Van met Allen at the castle gates. Allen was in Scheharazad, sword unsheathed. The main part of Fanelia's army spread out behind them, ready for action. In a brief moment of hesitation, Van looked behind him. Aqua eyes met his searching ones. Kendai held his gaze for a moment, then drew his sword and saluted the King. Van raised his chin and held up his sword. "Folken!" he yelled, and charged forward. The men echoed the cry, and followed behind him. Merle ran along side them until they rounded a bend in the road and vanished from sight. "Zaibach, here we come." Muttered Kendai.
With a shower of sparks, Van met the enemy Melef's blow, and turned it aside. He parried another blow, thrust his sword into the attacking Melef, and stepped back. The Melef fell, blazed blue, and disintegrated. Van turned to meet another opponent. Fanelia's forces met Zaibach about two or three hours from the castle. The opposing force had been bigger than anyone had expected. Zaibach had thirty Melefs, and 60,000 ground troops. Fanelia had a maximum of 40,000 men, and ten Melefs. They were outnumbered, and in deep trouble. Van disintegrated another enemy, and looked around. Things were not going well. Fanelia was holding it's own, but casualties were huge, and the men were tiring. They had been fighting now for an hour, and there were only five Melefs, including Escaflowne and Scherezad, still in the fight. A scream from Van's left made him wince. //Make that four Melefs left.// There was a loud crash, and Van whirled. What he saw made him cry out. Scherezad was down, and not moving. "Allen!" yelled Van. He charged towards his friend, oblivious to everything else. A Melef stepped in his way, but he cut it down without even noticing it. He felt something bit into his arm, and he could see an enemy Melef with a bloody sword. Van turned, and found he was boxed in, surrounded by enemy Melefs. //So. This is the end.// Van's thought didn't seem to disturb him, but he had a feeling that it should. He felt disconnected from the world. Everything was in slow motion, and he felt like he was trying to run underwater. A black Melef stepped forward, dark sword gleaming darkly in the red light. //This guy must be the leader. Hiding behind his dogs until victory is gaurenteed.// They faced off, swords in "guard" position. Van met the first blow of the leader by reflex. The effort made his muscles scream, and Escaflowne groan. //It's like when I tried fencing with Allen back at the fort in Asturia. Or Balgus.// Van focused all his attention on the other Melef. //Strike.Block.Strike.Strike.// Van was so focused, that he didn't see the other Melefs in the ring begin to move. He suddenly became aware of them, when a sword stuck itself in his left knee. //Shit.// He stumbled backwards, and went down on one knee. The black Melef advanced, sword streaking towards him almost to fast to see. //The end.// Suddenly, something appeared between Van and the black Melef. //What the-//