Love can Change You 14
A/N: Recap: Allen made it clear to Hitomi that if she didn't give in to him, he'd have Millerna and Merle killed. Meanwhile, the princess and the cat girl are searching for her, and the Vione is speeding towards a battle at Palas. Dilandau is filled with vengeance, and even Folken is prepared to help. But what about the unknown factors? Refina is involved, and Van still exists. Will he have some part to play before the events are up? Find out on Escaflowne!
Allen Schezar sat alone in his quarters. He waited patiently as the time ticked away like a well-oiled machine. 'Soon' he thought. 'Only a few more hours to go and Hitomi is mine.' For an instant, he felt a slight twinge of guilt. He shook it off. 'I didn't lie to Hitomi. I don't take rejection well. And she IS important to this war. I simply don't understand why she left in the first place!'
Of course Allen had known about the confrontation between Van and Hitomi, but he didn't see why that would make her join Zaibach! But things worked out after all. Shortly after she left, he'd met Refina.
She was the one who'd told him about the Vione, and Zaibach. But after his disastrous attempt to gain Van's help, Refina had said she'd handle it. Allen didn't know what she did, but it worked. Right to the point where Van tried to kill Hitomi.
He didn't know where exactly Refina came from, or how she got her information. But one thing he did know was that she was an excellent informant. And she wasn't bad in bed either. Allen grinned at the memory, then sighed. It was going to be shame when he killed her.
"Thinking deep thoughts?"
The knight turned and grinned as the object of his thoughts stood in front of him. "Just revenge."
Refina sat down on his lap. "Isn't that deep enough?"
"I always thought so." Allen kissed the girl. She met his kiss hungrily, striving against his mouth and tongue.
'I hope he's not in love with me. Poor bastard, he won't even know what hits him.' Refina smiled into the kiss. 'I'll only have to put up with this for a little longer. Then he's dead. If Dilandau doesn't get him first.' She stretched against him like a cat as Allen's hands roamed over her body. 'It's really a shame. He sure knows how to turn me on.'
"Is everything ready?"
Allen pulled back, his face sombre. "Yes. The troops are at their guymelefs and are waiting to repel an attack. Dilandau won't know what hit him."
Refina grinned. "Perfect!" Soon, her revenge would be complete. Allen would rape that bitch, Dilandau would be killed, she herself would finish off Hitomi, then she'd escape to Dornkirk. Who knows? Maybe she'd even take Allen with her. He sure had the right temper to be an assassin.
Allen grinned too, if somewhat wolfishly. "Why talk about that? You're too tense. Relax. Have some fun." So saying, he kissed his way down her neck. Refina turned around and.had fun.
*** A/N: I don't write the epic stuff. At least not in this fic. ***
A few hours later found Millerna and Merle hot, tired, sweaty, and very frustrated. They had been looking for Hitomi since last night, but had had no luck. They'd had to jump three different guards just to find some freaking keys!
At the moment, Merle was trying to fit a key into the lock of a door, while Millerna waited impatiently.
"Almost got it. Just a little. There!" The door swung open to reveal cobwebs and dust. "FUCK!"
Millerna sighed and wiped a hand across her forehead, leaving a streak of dirt there. "Come on. Lets keep going."
Merle threw the keys to the floor and jumped on them a few times. "I hate this! This is the stupidest thing I have ever done in my entire miserable life!"
"Trying to save your friend from imminent rape?"
Merle scowled. "You really know how to screw up whining, you know that?"
Millerna laughed. "It comes from being in politics. Now lets get going."
They turned around and saw a figure lurking behind them.
The women screamed.
The figure screamed.
Millerna got a closer look at it. "Mr. Mole???"
The short, middle-aged thief was clutching his heart, gasping for breath. "Please don't scream." He wheezed. "It hurts my heart".
Merle nearly cried in relief. "What are you doing down here?"
"Just my job". Mole simply said. "You wouldn't believe the stuff that people throw down here." He opened his bag. "I've already found an old perfume bottle that was used by Mister Schezar." Millerna rolled her eyes.
Leave it to Allen to wear perfume.
Merle was about to continue on, when she had an idea. She grabbed Mr. Mole, scaring the living daylights out of him. "If you spend so much time down here, then you know these corridors pretty well, don't you?"
Mole nodded. "Better then anyone else, lady Merle."
Millerna caught on. "So you'd be able to find someone down here, wouldn't you?" Mr. Mole nodded slowly. "Then you can help us!"
"In what way?"
"Do you remember Hitomi?"
"The pretty girl from the Mystic moon? Of course. She was nice."
Merle nodded frantically. "Yes, that's great. She's down here somewhere. We need to find her, and fast."
Mole studied the two women. "I know where she is." The two cheered. "But it's gonna cost you." The cheers changed into growls of frustration.
"How much?" Millerna grumbled.
Mr. Mole put up his hands. "Nothing bad. It's just that I'm getting old. This year makes me 42, I think." He counted on his fingers. "I think it's 42. My last birthday was a few days before Mr. Schezar got hurt."
The princess sighed, knuckling her forehead. "Just tell us what you want."
"Well, like I said, I'm getting old. I want to settle down some place. Somewhere where I can still buy and sell and trade this old junk." He held up his bag. "But no one will sell to me because.well, because I'm me. But if someone in the palace were to back me up."
"Then you could start a place on your own." Merle finished. She turned to Millerna. "How about it? It's not much."
Millerna nodded. "I agree. It's a deal." She and Mole shook hands. Then he took off. "This way!"
The women followed him.
***
Naria sat alone in her room, meditating. What was coming would be her biggest battle, and she was excited as hell.
'Calm down.' She thought. 'Just calm down and you'll get through this'.
Suddenly a knock at the door disturbed her revelations. Growling, Naria jumped up, and ran to the door. Opening it, she screamed "What do you want?!"
Gatti just bowed his head. "Just to talk with you."
"Oh". Naria stepped aside. "Come on in." As the slayer strolled in and sat down in a chair, the cat girl took the chair opposite of him.
For a moment they sat in uncomfortable silence. The only sound was the clock ticking. To break the awkward silence, Naria said, "I'm sorry for screaming at you. I've been tense today."
Gatti nodded. "It's alright".
Naria shook her head. "No, it's not. I had no right to be so rude."
Gatti took her hand. "No, really. It's alright."
"You mean it?"
"Yes."
Naria sighed in relief. "You're a good guy, Gatti. And you're my best friend."
Gatti hesitated. "That's kind of what I wanted to you about." Naria cocked her head and he continued. "Well, it's like this. I like you. I mean like. I've liked you for a while too."
Naria didn't talk. The seconds passed by and Gatti sighed. He stood up. "I just wanted to get that off my chest, seeing as I probably won't survive the fighting. And since I'll probably never see you again, it wouldn't have been fair to you, if-" He was cut off as Naria kissed him.
The kiss lasted for several seconds. And when it ended, Gatti was gaping. He stared at Naria who was pink in the cheeks.
"If you do survive, look me up". She said. Then she ran from the room.
Gatti touched his lips. Then a goofy grin lit across his face. "Maybe I have a reason to live through this."
***
Palas was on high alert.
The city guard patrolled the streets and guymelefs waited in their sheds for the battle to start.
It was an open secret that Dilandau Albatou was with the enemy force, and every one of the guards wanted a chance to avenge Palas' burning. However, the citizens had no stomach for another battle in their city, and they fled to the underground sewers.
The entire city was an armed camp, just waiting for an excuse to start shooting.
This was the city that Folken Strategos Lacour de Fanel found himself looking down on.
The Vione was cloaked, and hovering above the castle. While the engineers prepped the engines and weapons, the Dragonslayers, and his beloved cat girls were waiting for him to give the order to attack.
'What are you doing now Van? Are you even aware of events that are taking place? Or is the mind drug holding you inactive?' Folken mused to himself.
What WOULD Van do? Folken had no idea. He was the unknown factor that could spell victory or defeat for either side.
A technician approached him. "My Lord?" Folken turned to the man. "What should we do with the extra guymelef? The green and black one?"
"Wait for the fighting on the ground to end, then send it down." The technician nodded and left. Folken returned to his thoughts.
***
Dilandau was impatient to start. He had Hitomi's sword along with his own, so he could give it back to her. He went over the plan one last time.
Dilandau, Chesta, Miguel, and Dalet would make straight for the castle while the others under the command of Gatti would hold off the enemy. Once in the castle, the commandos would try to find Hitomi and bring her back to the Vione. Whereupon, they would all retreat.
It was a simple plan, but it could work.
Dilandau activated his comlink and spoke to his troops.
"This is it boys. The Asturian bastards took our comrade, and now is the time to get her back. Our lives mean nothing to do this. This is why we left Zaibach. This is why we are risking our lives. And this is why they want to stop us. But they had better not bar our way. For we shall win through. No matter the cost!"
Cheers sounded over the intercom as his speech was received.
"Nice speech Dilandau". Said Folken's voice.
"Is it time now?"
"Yes. You may proceed."
Dilandau smiled viciously. "Here we go! ATTACK!"
Dilandau shot out of the Vione, into the sky, and into his destiny.
A/N: I couldn't just keave poor Gatti without anyone, bereft of female company. Call me an old softy.
But it's happened! Dilandau and the slayers have reached Palas and are going to rescue Hitomi or die trying. Will it be the one, or the other? Tune in next time to find out! On Escaflowne!
A/N: Recap: Allen made it clear to Hitomi that if she didn't give in to him, he'd have Millerna and Merle killed. Meanwhile, the princess and the cat girl are searching for her, and the Vione is speeding towards a battle at Palas. Dilandau is filled with vengeance, and even Folken is prepared to help. But what about the unknown factors? Refina is involved, and Van still exists. Will he have some part to play before the events are up? Find out on Escaflowne!
Allen Schezar sat alone in his quarters. He waited patiently as the time ticked away like a well-oiled machine. 'Soon' he thought. 'Only a few more hours to go and Hitomi is mine.' For an instant, he felt a slight twinge of guilt. He shook it off. 'I didn't lie to Hitomi. I don't take rejection well. And she IS important to this war. I simply don't understand why she left in the first place!'
Of course Allen had known about the confrontation between Van and Hitomi, but he didn't see why that would make her join Zaibach! But things worked out after all. Shortly after she left, he'd met Refina.
She was the one who'd told him about the Vione, and Zaibach. But after his disastrous attempt to gain Van's help, Refina had said she'd handle it. Allen didn't know what she did, but it worked. Right to the point where Van tried to kill Hitomi.
He didn't know where exactly Refina came from, or how she got her information. But one thing he did know was that she was an excellent informant. And she wasn't bad in bed either. Allen grinned at the memory, then sighed. It was going to be shame when he killed her.
"Thinking deep thoughts?"
The knight turned and grinned as the object of his thoughts stood in front of him. "Just revenge."
Refina sat down on his lap. "Isn't that deep enough?"
"I always thought so." Allen kissed the girl. She met his kiss hungrily, striving against his mouth and tongue.
'I hope he's not in love with me. Poor bastard, he won't even know what hits him.' Refina smiled into the kiss. 'I'll only have to put up with this for a little longer. Then he's dead. If Dilandau doesn't get him first.' She stretched against him like a cat as Allen's hands roamed over her body. 'It's really a shame. He sure knows how to turn me on.'
"Is everything ready?"
Allen pulled back, his face sombre. "Yes. The troops are at their guymelefs and are waiting to repel an attack. Dilandau won't know what hit him."
Refina grinned. "Perfect!" Soon, her revenge would be complete. Allen would rape that bitch, Dilandau would be killed, she herself would finish off Hitomi, then she'd escape to Dornkirk. Who knows? Maybe she'd even take Allen with her. He sure had the right temper to be an assassin.
Allen grinned too, if somewhat wolfishly. "Why talk about that? You're too tense. Relax. Have some fun." So saying, he kissed his way down her neck. Refina turned around and.had fun.
*** A/N: I don't write the epic stuff. At least not in this fic. ***
A few hours later found Millerna and Merle hot, tired, sweaty, and very frustrated. They had been looking for Hitomi since last night, but had had no luck. They'd had to jump three different guards just to find some freaking keys!
At the moment, Merle was trying to fit a key into the lock of a door, while Millerna waited impatiently.
"Almost got it. Just a little. There!" The door swung open to reveal cobwebs and dust. "FUCK!"
Millerna sighed and wiped a hand across her forehead, leaving a streak of dirt there. "Come on. Lets keep going."
Merle threw the keys to the floor and jumped on them a few times. "I hate this! This is the stupidest thing I have ever done in my entire miserable life!"
"Trying to save your friend from imminent rape?"
Merle scowled. "You really know how to screw up whining, you know that?"
Millerna laughed. "It comes from being in politics. Now lets get going."
They turned around and saw a figure lurking behind them.
The women screamed.
The figure screamed.
Millerna got a closer look at it. "Mr. Mole???"
The short, middle-aged thief was clutching his heart, gasping for breath. "Please don't scream." He wheezed. "It hurts my heart".
Merle nearly cried in relief. "What are you doing down here?"
"Just my job". Mole simply said. "You wouldn't believe the stuff that people throw down here." He opened his bag. "I've already found an old perfume bottle that was used by Mister Schezar." Millerna rolled her eyes.
Leave it to Allen to wear perfume.
Merle was about to continue on, when she had an idea. She grabbed Mr. Mole, scaring the living daylights out of him. "If you spend so much time down here, then you know these corridors pretty well, don't you?"
Mole nodded. "Better then anyone else, lady Merle."
Millerna caught on. "So you'd be able to find someone down here, wouldn't you?" Mr. Mole nodded slowly. "Then you can help us!"
"In what way?"
"Do you remember Hitomi?"
"The pretty girl from the Mystic moon? Of course. She was nice."
Merle nodded frantically. "Yes, that's great. She's down here somewhere. We need to find her, and fast."
Mole studied the two women. "I know where she is." The two cheered. "But it's gonna cost you." The cheers changed into growls of frustration.
"How much?" Millerna grumbled.
Mr. Mole put up his hands. "Nothing bad. It's just that I'm getting old. This year makes me 42, I think." He counted on his fingers. "I think it's 42. My last birthday was a few days before Mr. Schezar got hurt."
The princess sighed, knuckling her forehead. "Just tell us what you want."
"Well, like I said, I'm getting old. I want to settle down some place. Somewhere where I can still buy and sell and trade this old junk." He held up his bag. "But no one will sell to me because.well, because I'm me. But if someone in the palace were to back me up."
"Then you could start a place on your own." Merle finished. She turned to Millerna. "How about it? It's not much."
Millerna nodded. "I agree. It's a deal." She and Mole shook hands. Then he took off. "This way!"
The women followed him.
***
Naria sat alone in her room, meditating. What was coming would be her biggest battle, and she was excited as hell.
'Calm down.' She thought. 'Just calm down and you'll get through this'.
Suddenly a knock at the door disturbed her revelations. Growling, Naria jumped up, and ran to the door. Opening it, she screamed "What do you want?!"
Gatti just bowed his head. "Just to talk with you."
"Oh". Naria stepped aside. "Come on in." As the slayer strolled in and sat down in a chair, the cat girl took the chair opposite of him.
For a moment they sat in uncomfortable silence. The only sound was the clock ticking. To break the awkward silence, Naria said, "I'm sorry for screaming at you. I've been tense today."
Gatti nodded. "It's alright".
Naria shook her head. "No, it's not. I had no right to be so rude."
Gatti took her hand. "No, really. It's alright."
"You mean it?"
"Yes."
Naria sighed in relief. "You're a good guy, Gatti. And you're my best friend."
Gatti hesitated. "That's kind of what I wanted to you about." Naria cocked her head and he continued. "Well, it's like this. I like you. I mean like. I've liked you for a while too."
Naria didn't talk. The seconds passed by and Gatti sighed. He stood up. "I just wanted to get that off my chest, seeing as I probably won't survive the fighting. And since I'll probably never see you again, it wouldn't have been fair to you, if-" He was cut off as Naria kissed him.
The kiss lasted for several seconds. And when it ended, Gatti was gaping. He stared at Naria who was pink in the cheeks.
"If you do survive, look me up". She said. Then she ran from the room.
Gatti touched his lips. Then a goofy grin lit across his face. "Maybe I have a reason to live through this."
***
Palas was on high alert.
The city guard patrolled the streets and guymelefs waited in their sheds for the battle to start.
It was an open secret that Dilandau Albatou was with the enemy force, and every one of the guards wanted a chance to avenge Palas' burning. However, the citizens had no stomach for another battle in their city, and they fled to the underground sewers.
The entire city was an armed camp, just waiting for an excuse to start shooting.
This was the city that Folken Strategos Lacour de Fanel found himself looking down on.
The Vione was cloaked, and hovering above the castle. While the engineers prepped the engines and weapons, the Dragonslayers, and his beloved cat girls were waiting for him to give the order to attack.
'What are you doing now Van? Are you even aware of events that are taking place? Or is the mind drug holding you inactive?' Folken mused to himself.
What WOULD Van do? Folken had no idea. He was the unknown factor that could spell victory or defeat for either side.
A technician approached him. "My Lord?" Folken turned to the man. "What should we do with the extra guymelef? The green and black one?"
"Wait for the fighting on the ground to end, then send it down." The technician nodded and left. Folken returned to his thoughts.
***
Dilandau was impatient to start. He had Hitomi's sword along with his own, so he could give it back to her. He went over the plan one last time.
Dilandau, Chesta, Miguel, and Dalet would make straight for the castle while the others under the command of Gatti would hold off the enemy. Once in the castle, the commandos would try to find Hitomi and bring her back to the Vione. Whereupon, they would all retreat.
It was a simple plan, but it could work.
Dilandau activated his comlink and spoke to his troops.
"This is it boys. The Asturian bastards took our comrade, and now is the time to get her back. Our lives mean nothing to do this. This is why we left Zaibach. This is why we are risking our lives. And this is why they want to stop us. But they had better not bar our way. For we shall win through. No matter the cost!"
Cheers sounded over the intercom as his speech was received.
"Nice speech Dilandau". Said Folken's voice.
"Is it time now?"
"Yes. You may proceed."
Dilandau smiled viciously. "Here we go! ATTACK!"
Dilandau shot out of the Vione, into the sky, and into his destiny.
A/N: I couldn't just keave poor Gatti without anyone, bereft of female company. Call me an old softy.
But it's happened! Dilandau and the slayers have reached Palas and are going to rescue Hitomi or die trying. Will it be the one, or the other? Tune in next time to find out! On Escaflowne!