The Ties That Bind
By Siren
All right guys, this is where the series takes a darker turn. There's going to be some Nikki/Van moments, as well as Nikki/Dilandau moments. Dilandau and his slayers attack Asturia, where Van and the others are. But when he meets his match, he finds that he can't bring himself to kill her. You won't be reading anything from Nikki's POV though, because she's like Dilandau. He changed her destiny, and now she's much darker, and her name as well as appearance changed. Will I ever regain my memories? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The raven-haired girl snuggled up next to her love, resting her head on his shoulder. "Morning love," she greeted. The young pyro smiled sleepily. "Why must you wake up so early?" The young girl shrugged. "Because the longer we're awake, the more time I have to spend with you." Dilandau liked that answer, and rewarded her with a gentle kiss.
"How are you feeling today?" he asked. The girl sat up, and swung her legs over the bed. "I had a terrible dream. I dreamt that I was in love with the dragon. Head over heels for the little twerp. In fact, I dreamt I was someone else entirely. I was so weak and pathetic. Thankfully though, it was just a dream." Dilandau sat up and rested his chin on her shoulder. "I hope it didn't frighten you too much. You know that we have a mission today." She nodded, her raven hair falling in front of her face.
The only reminisce of what she once was, were the faint red streaks in her hair. Her hair now rested a few inches beneath her shoulders. Dilandau snaked his arms around her waist and held her to him. Normally, she would have been craving his touch, but something was different. Sensing her hesitance, he frowned. "What's wrong?" She shrugged. "Nothing. I'm just anxious to kill that dragon, that's all," she lied. He nuzzled her neck, and she shivered. "Well, we should get ready. You're sure you're ready for this?"
The girl turned in his arms and took his face in her hands. "Dilandau, you don't need to worry about me. I'm a little shaken up by the dream, that's all. I'll be fine. And at the end of the battle," she kissed his chin, "I'll bring you the dragon's head." Dilandau smiled brightly. Everything worked out perfectly. She was his now, and no longer the dragon's. "Just be careful. I don't want to lose you, Terra." The girl smiled gave him a gentle kiss. "I have to train, but I'll see you later, love," she purred. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(A.N.- No, Dilandau and Nikki/Terra did not have sex. She was just placed in his room after the, um, procedure.)
Terra's eyes darkened as she looked in the mirror. To think that she could have ever been that pathetic lovesick wimp.it made her sick. "Terra- sama, your clothes are ready." She glared at the door. "Leave them on the bed," she barked. Sick of studying her reflection, she grabbed the clothes. She slipped them on, hoping to feel more like herself. She was soon dressed in a black satin gown and thigh-high boots. Her eyes were dark, as was her makeup. A dark shade of black covered her eyes, and red glossed her lips. Letting her hair fall on her shoulders, she smiled.
Satisfied with how she looked, Terra left her room and made her way to the docking-bay. Someone brushed past her, and she winced. Frowning, she felt her stomach. It was tender, and she didn't recall getting hurt. Sneaking in to a nearby room, she lifted her gown. There was a large gash on her stomach, but it was stitched shut. 'When was I hurt? I wasn't in any recent battles, and I don't recall getting injured during training.'
Shaking her head, she pushed her thoughts away and continued to walk to her destination. Stepping inside, she surveyed everything. "Prep my guymelef. I'm going to bring back the dragon's head as a present for Dilandau and Dornkirk-sama. Make sure that my flamethrower is working perfectly." "Planning on a barbecue?" Terra smiled and turned around. "Actually, Folken, I was. Care to join me?" The sorcerer shook his head. "I don't take part in the actual battles, Terra-san."
She rolled her eyes. "Enough with the formalities. We're like one big family, and I don't address family formally. I'm just Terra. Not Terra-san, ne, Folken?" The older male smiled. "You're right, Terra. Gomen-nasai." Terra smiled gently. "Don't apologize for being a gentleman. I'm not angry. Not at you, anyway. It's that damn dragon that makes my blood boil." Folken nodded. "I can tell. I don't believe I've seen you this angry before." Terra shrugged, and turned away from him. "I'm just anxious to get to the battle. The sooner this is over, the better." Her eyes darkened, and a growl emitted from her throat. "The dragon will pay for invading my dreams." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Van-sama, please calm down. I'm sure she's alright," Merle soothed. Van through her a vicious glare. "She's injured and alone. How can she possibly be fine?" The young cat girl cringed at his outburst. "Gomen, Van- sama, I just hate seeing you upset. Besides, she's been in worse situations. We'll find her, don't worry. Allen and his crew are combing the country side as we speak."
Van closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. When he had last seen her, she was near death and fading quickly. She could be dead at the very moment. Growling, he pushed the thought away. 'She's alive, I know it. She wouldn't abandon me. She came back from the dead for me. She knows I need her. That I lo-' He cut the thought short. He knew he cared deeply for her, but love? Love was something he hadn't felt for a long time. He wasn't even sure that he was capable of it.
"She jumped from a cliff, Merle. She's hurt badly, and I can't stop worrying." He sighed and bowed his head. "I care about her Merle. You knew that before I did. I need her. I can't calm down until I know she's safe and by my side," he admitted softly. Merle's eyes softened, and she wrapped her arms around his waist. "She loves you, Van-sama. She'll come back to you, you'll see." He nodded. "I know. She's strong and resourceful. I just wish I knew if she was okay and where she was." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Terra was growing impatient. Where was her love? She grew more anxious by the moment, silently cursing the pyro for his tardiness. "Miss me?" A smile tugged at her lips as she turned around and pulled him in for a fierce kiss. "Of course I missed you. Can we please start the battle now?" Dilandau smiled and kissed her forehead. "Yes, we'll leave for the battle now. Just as long as you're ready." Terra smiled seductively and nodded. "I've been ready all day. I want to kill that dragon soon so I can give you my present," she said and smiled sweetly. "A present, ne? Will I like it?" Her smile grew. "You like all of my presents," she said with a kiss.
"Alright then. Are the guymelefs ready?" Miguel nodded. "Yes, Dilandau-sama." Satisfied, he turned to his raven-haired love. "I'll see you on the battle field then." He drew her close and kissed her softly. "Be careful, my slayer." Terra smiled, and returned the kiss. "I will if you will." Separating, they each went to their own guymelefs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Allen watched Van pace back and for the in worry. He knew how the young king felt. He was worried sick when Celena first disappeared. It was only after he accepted her death that he allowed himself to calm. He hated to admit it, but he doubted that Nicole was live. With the wounds that Van described, she wouldn't have lasted long even with medical attention. Sighing, he ran his fingers through his blonde tresses. Love was hard to lose.
"Commander! Zaibach soldiers have been spotted! They're gathering at the edge of Asturia!" Allen's head shot up, and his eyes widened. "Alert Millerna-hime and gather our military forces. I'll tell Van and meet you at the gates." Gaddess nodded and quickly left to fulfill his orders. Allen rushed into Van's room, not bothering to knock. "Van, Zaibach is here! Get Escaflowne and meet me at the gate!" Van nodded. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Terra smiled from inside her guymelef. She could see Asturia's forces gathering. 'Just wait, dragon. It won't be long before I have your head on a silver platter. Dilandau and Dornkirk-sama will be so pleased with my work; I'll be promoted to general. Besides, how dare you invade my dreams?' "They're coming! Get ready, and use your stealth-cloaks!" Terra smiled coldly before her guymelef disappeared from sight. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Van watched as Zaibach's guymelefs disappeared. 'Dammit! They're using their stealth cloaks, and only Nicole was able to see them! With her gone, we're doomed!' He frowned, but proceeded forward. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Van stood at the front of the gate, and searched for the enemy. "What do you want?" he called out. He heard a female chuckle, and his breath caught in his throat. He knew that chuckle from anywhere. But it couldn't be.could it? "The only thing I want, is your head, dragon," the female answered. It was then that he knew it was her. "Nicole?" he called out.
Terra frowned, eyes narrowed. 'That's what he called me in my dream. What sorcery is this?' "I know no one by that name, dragon. You are mistaken. I am Terra of Zaibach. And you are my enemy," she answered. Van growled in frustration. He knew it was her, he knew her voice. But why was she lying to him? Did Zaibach kidnap her? Was she trying to protect him? "Nicole, I don't know what they did to you, but I know it's you. I'll save you, don't worry," he assured her. Terra frowned from inside her guymelef. "I'm afraid you're the one that needs saving, Fanel. Now, prepare to die!"
The battle began. Swords clashed and blood was shed, much to Terra's delight. She began to slaughter those around her, not caring whose side they were on. As she slaughtered another soldier, she felt a pang of guilt, and was suddenly horrified by her actions. 'This, this isn't right. What am I doing? Where am I? Who am I? Van? Where's Van?' Hearing metal screech behind her, she stabbed the melef with her sword.
'Get a grip, Terra. You're a slayer, key word 'slay'. You were born to do this. Your sole purpose in life is to kill. Nothing matters except the mission and the battle.' Pushing her doubt away, she continued to fight. She watched as Dilandau fought Allen, and a smile tugged at her lips. He was always so amazing in battle as he let his rage guide him. Even she was no match for him, she knew.
"Nicole!" Van's voice brought her back to reality as she charged at him. "I will have your head!" she yelled. Slamming her sword down on his, she hoped to make him lose his balance. But Van was a formidable opponent, and shoved her back. "Why are you doing this?" Terra frowned and felt hatred surge within her. "I'm doing this because I hate you!" she screamed as she attacked him again. Yet he did not attack her, only defended against her.
"Fight back!" she screamed. 'Why isn't he fighting back? My sword'll kill him if he doesn't fight back. Does he really care this much for this, this 'Nicole'? Why doesn't he just finish this battle?' Then it hit her. 'Why aren't I ending this battle?' Staggering away from him, she stared at him. "N-Nicole?" Terra shook her head, and felt herself fall to her knees. "Why do you call me that? My name is Terra, you fool."
Van watched her as she slid to her knees. Was he finally getting through to her? Did she finally recognize him? "Nicole, I don't understand why you're doing this. Don't you remember me? Don't you remember.us?" Terra shut her eyes tightly, and shook her head. "There is no us! There never was! I am Dilandau's, not your's!"
Dilandau saw Terra slide to her knees, and his eyes widened in panic. "Terra? Terra!" Quickly killing his opponent, he rushed to her side. "Terra!" She looked up at him, eyes wide. "D-Dilandau? Where am I? Who.who am I?" Dilandau frowned. 'Dammit, she's fighting the procedure. I can't allow her to remember her love for the dragon. I can't lose her!' "Open your hatch, quickly!" Terra obeyed, and Van gasped.
It was Nicole, but she was different. Her hair was now black, save for a few red streaks. And her eyes were now darker, much darker. He watched as Dilandau opened his melef's hand, and Nicole leapt into it. Dilandau growled at Van, eyes flashing. "If you ever come near her again, I'll slaughter all of those that you hold dear!" Dilandau's melef turned to flight-mode, and Van watched as they took to the sky. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dilandau carried the now dazed Terra to the lab. The scientists and sorcerers looked up from their work and frowned. "Dilandau-sama?" Dilandau laid her down on the metal table, eyes urgent. "The procedure is wearing off. Her love for the dragon is surfacing. I need you to do the procedure again." The scientists shook their heads. "We cannot do that, Dilandau- sama. She will not survive a second operation." Dilandau yelled and struck one of them. "Are you saying that you can't stop her love for him?" The one that was struck nodded, eyes wide. "Gomen-nasai. If we put her through the procedure again, her mind shall be shattered."
"Alright. Her love for him will return once more, but we will not let her leave. I don't care if she loves that stupid dragon. She's mine, and will remain that way. Lock her in my room. I'll be there later." Meanwhile, Terra opened her eyes, and looked up at Dilandau painfully. "D-Dilandau? What's happening to me? What did you.what did you do to me? I'm not really Terra, am I? I'm the girl the dragon spoke of. I'm Nicole. And I'm in love with him, not you. You, you did something to me. You betrayed me." she murmured. Dilandau shook his head.
"No love, I never betrayed you. I, I love you, and I just wanted you to love me too." Terra/Nicole shook her head. "I could never love you after this." Dilandau growled and kissed her hard. When he pulled away, he slapped her. "You don't have to love me, but you will be mine." With that, he stormed out of the room. After he left, the scientists injected something into her veins. "This will make you tired, Terra-san." Terra/Nicole shook her head. "No, I'm not Terra. I'm Nicole, and I love Van. Van.I need Van. Please let me go to him. I need him." she pleaded.
The memories of she and Dilandau had done began to flood her mind, and she wept as she fell asleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It was her. It was Nicole. She was the one that attacked me. But she was different. Everything about her was so much darker. And she was with Dilandau. I don't know what those bastards did to her, but she doesn't remember me at all," Van sulked. He had finally seen her again, but she was so different. Towards the end she began to remember, but than Dilandau came and took her away. Van was too stunned to stop him, too hurt.
'She forgot me. They took her away, and put that 'Terra' girl in her place. They changed her. After all that we've been through, she forgot me. Was it because she was angry with me for saying something in my sleep? Did she put up a fight when they brainwashed her? Did she even care that they did that to her?' Van sighed as he sat on his bed. The others took that as their cue to leave, and did so.
"Van-sama, she loves you. She would never just forget about you. Not willingly. Don't you have faith in her?" The young king shook his head. "I don't know Merle. She was so angry with me before, and then she jumped off a cliff to save me. Now she's someone else and she attacked me. I just don't know what to believe anymore." Merle frowned, and pulled him into a hug. "Underneath it all though, she's still the girl that loves you. You just have to get her back." Van closed his eyes. "I just don't know anymore, Merle. I just don't know." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Nicole sat in a corner in Dilandau's room. She was cold, and the fact that she was in a gown didn't help. She trembled and scratched at her hands. 'I, I attacked Van. How could I? He knew it was me. I knew I was me, somewhere inside. But I couldn't get out. I was buried too far down. Van's never going to forgive me for what I've done. I can't forgive myself. Oh Van, I'm so scared. Please come. Please help me. Van.'
2 Be Continued..
By Siren
All right guys, this is where the series takes a darker turn. There's going to be some Nikki/Van moments, as well as Nikki/Dilandau moments. Dilandau and his slayers attack Asturia, where Van and the others are. But when he meets his match, he finds that he can't bring himself to kill her. You won't be reading anything from Nikki's POV though, because she's like Dilandau. He changed her destiny, and now she's much darker, and her name as well as appearance changed. Will I ever regain my memories? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The raven-haired girl snuggled up next to her love, resting her head on his shoulder. "Morning love," she greeted. The young pyro smiled sleepily. "Why must you wake up so early?" The young girl shrugged. "Because the longer we're awake, the more time I have to spend with you." Dilandau liked that answer, and rewarded her with a gentle kiss.
"How are you feeling today?" he asked. The girl sat up, and swung her legs over the bed. "I had a terrible dream. I dreamt that I was in love with the dragon. Head over heels for the little twerp. In fact, I dreamt I was someone else entirely. I was so weak and pathetic. Thankfully though, it was just a dream." Dilandau sat up and rested his chin on her shoulder. "I hope it didn't frighten you too much. You know that we have a mission today." She nodded, her raven hair falling in front of her face.
The only reminisce of what she once was, were the faint red streaks in her hair. Her hair now rested a few inches beneath her shoulders. Dilandau snaked his arms around her waist and held her to him. Normally, she would have been craving his touch, but something was different. Sensing her hesitance, he frowned. "What's wrong?" She shrugged. "Nothing. I'm just anxious to kill that dragon, that's all," she lied. He nuzzled her neck, and she shivered. "Well, we should get ready. You're sure you're ready for this?"
The girl turned in his arms and took his face in her hands. "Dilandau, you don't need to worry about me. I'm a little shaken up by the dream, that's all. I'll be fine. And at the end of the battle," she kissed his chin, "I'll bring you the dragon's head." Dilandau smiled brightly. Everything worked out perfectly. She was his now, and no longer the dragon's. "Just be careful. I don't want to lose you, Terra." The girl smiled gave him a gentle kiss. "I have to train, but I'll see you later, love," she purred. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(A.N.- No, Dilandau and Nikki/Terra did not have sex. She was just placed in his room after the, um, procedure.)
Terra's eyes darkened as she looked in the mirror. To think that she could have ever been that pathetic lovesick wimp.it made her sick. "Terra- sama, your clothes are ready." She glared at the door. "Leave them on the bed," she barked. Sick of studying her reflection, she grabbed the clothes. She slipped them on, hoping to feel more like herself. She was soon dressed in a black satin gown and thigh-high boots. Her eyes were dark, as was her makeup. A dark shade of black covered her eyes, and red glossed her lips. Letting her hair fall on her shoulders, she smiled.
Satisfied with how she looked, Terra left her room and made her way to the docking-bay. Someone brushed past her, and she winced. Frowning, she felt her stomach. It was tender, and she didn't recall getting hurt. Sneaking in to a nearby room, she lifted her gown. There was a large gash on her stomach, but it was stitched shut. 'When was I hurt? I wasn't in any recent battles, and I don't recall getting injured during training.'
Shaking her head, she pushed her thoughts away and continued to walk to her destination. Stepping inside, she surveyed everything. "Prep my guymelef. I'm going to bring back the dragon's head as a present for Dilandau and Dornkirk-sama. Make sure that my flamethrower is working perfectly." "Planning on a barbecue?" Terra smiled and turned around. "Actually, Folken, I was. Care to join me?" The sorcerer shook his head. "I don't take part in the actual battles, Terra-san."
She rolled her eyes. "Enough with the formalities. We're like one big family, and I don't address family formally. I'm just Terra. Not Terra-san, ne, Folken?" The older male smiled. "You're right, Terra. Gomen-nasai." Terra smiled gently. "Don't apologize for being a gentleman. I'm not angry. Not at you, anyway. It's that damn dragon that makes my blood boil." Folken nodded. "I can tell. I don't believe I've seen you this angry before." Terra shrugged, and turned away from him. "I'm just anxious to get to the battle. The sooner this is over, the better." Her eyes darkened, and a growl emitted from her throat. "The dragon will pay for invading my dreams." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Van-sama, please calm down. I'm sure she's alright," Merle soothed. Van through her a vicious glare. "She's injured and alone. How can she possibly be fine?" The young cat girl cringed at his outburst. "Gomen, Van- sama, I just hate seeing you upset. Besides, she's been in worse situations. We'll find her, don't worry. Allen and his crew are combing the country side as we speak."
Van closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. When he had last seen her, she was near death and fading quickly. She could be dead at the very moment. Growling, he pushed the thought away. 'She's alive, I know it. She wouldn't abandon me. She came back from the dead for me. She knows I need her. That I lo-' He cut the thought short. He knew he cared deeply for her, but love? Love was something he hadn't felt for a long time. He wasn't even sure that he was capable of it.
"She jumped from a cliff, Merle. She's hurt badly, and I can't stop worrying." He sighed and bowed his head. "I care about her Merle. You knew that before I did. I need her. I can't calm down until I know she's safe and by my side," he admitted softly. Merle's eyes softened, and she wrapped her arms around his waist. "She loves you, Van-sama. She'll come back to you, you'll see." He nodded. "I know. She's strong and resourceful. I just wish I knew if she was okay and where she was." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Terra was growing impatient. Where was her love? She grew more anxious by the moment, silently cursing the pyro for his tardiness. "Miss me?" A smile tugged at her lips as she turned around and pulled him in for a fierce kiss. "Of course I missed you. Can we please start the battle now?" Dilandau smiled and kissed her forehead. "Yes, we'll leave for the battle now. Just as long as you're ready." Terra smiled seductively and nodded. "I've been ready all day. I want to kill that dragon soon so I can give you my present," she said and smiled sweetly. "A present, ne? Will I like it?" Her smile grew. "You like all of my presents," she said with a kiss.
"Alright then. Are the guymelefs ready?" Miguel nodded. "Yes, Dilandau-sama." Satisfied, he turned to his raven-haired love. "I'll see you on the battle field then." He drew her close and kissed her softly. "Be careful, my slayer." Terra smiled, and returned the kiss. "I will if you will." Separating, they each went to their own guymelefs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Allen watched Van pace back and for the in worry. He knew how the young king felt. He was worried sick when Celena first disappeared. It was only after he accepted her death that he allowed himself to calm. He hated to admit it, but he doubted that Nicole was live. With the wounds that Van described, she wouldn't have lasted long even with medical attention. Sighing, he ran his fingers through his blonde tresses. Love was hard to lose.
"Commander! Zaibach soldiers have been spotted! They're gathering at the edge of Asturia!" Allen's head shot up, and his eyes widened. "Alert Millerna-hime and gather our military forces. I'll tell Van and meet you at the gates." Gaddess nodded and quickly left to fulfill his orders. Allen rushed into Van's room, not bothering to knock. "Van, Zaibach is here! Get Escaflowne and meet me at the gate!" Van nodded. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Terra smiled from inside her guymelef. She could see Asturia's forces gathering. 'Just wait, dragon. It won't be long before I have your head on a silver platter. Dilandau and Dornkirk-sama will be so pleased with my work; I'll be promoted to general. Besides, how dare you invade my dreams?' "They're coming! Get ready, and use your stealth-cloaks!" Terra smiled coldly before her guymelef disappeared from sight. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Van watched as Zaibach's guymelefs disappeared. 'Dammit! They're using their stealth cloaks, and only Nicole was able to see them! With her gone, we're doomed!' He frowned, but proceeded forward. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Van stood at the front of the gate, and searched for the enemy. "What do you want?" he called out. He heard a female chuckle, and his breath caught in his throat. He knew that chuckle from anywhere. But it couldn't be.could it? "The only thing I want, is your head, dragon," the female answered. It was then that he knew it was her. "Nicole?" he called out.
Terra frowned, eyes narrowed. 'That's what he called me in my dream. What sorcery is this?' "I know no one by that name, dragon. You are mistaken. I am Terra of Zaibach. And you are my enemy," she answered. Van growled in frustration. He knew it was her, he knew her voice. But why was she lying to him? Did Zaibach kidnap her? Was she trying to protect him? "Nicole, I don't know what they did to you, but I know it's you. I'll save you, don't worry," he assured her. Terra frowned from inside her guymelef. "I'm afraid you're the one that needs saving, Fanel. Now, prepare to die!"
The battle began. Swords clashed and blood was shed, much to Terra's delight. She began to slaughter those around her, not caring whose side they were on. As she slaughtered another soldier, she felt a pang of guilt, and was suddenly horrified by her actions. 'This, this isn't right. What am I doing? Where am I? Who am I? Van? Where's Van?' Hearing metal screech behind her, she stabbed the melef with her sword.
'Get a grip, Terra. You're a slayer, key word 'slay'. You were born to do this. Your sole purpose in life is to kill. Nothing matters except the mission and the battle.' Pushing her doubt away, she continued to fight. She watched as Dilandau fought Allen, and a smile tugged at her lips. He was always so amazing in battle as he let his rage guide him. Even she was no match for him, she knew.
"Nicole!" Van's voice brought her back to reality as she charged at him. "I will have your head!" she yelled. Slamming her sword down on his, she hoped to make him lose his balance. But Van was a formidable opponent, and shoved her back. "Why are you doing this?" Terra frowned and felt hatred surge within her. "I'm doing this because I hate you!" she screamed as she attacked him again. Yet he did not attack her, only defended against her.
"Fight back!" she screamed. 'Why isn't he fighting back? My sword'll kill him if he doesn't fight back. Does he really care this much for this, this 'Nicole'? Why doesn't he just finish this battle?' Then it hit her. 'Why aren't I ending this battle?' Staggering away from him, she stared at him. "N-Nicole?" Terra shook her head, and felt herself fall to her knees. "Why do you call me that? My name is Terra, you fool."
Van watched her as she slid to her knees. Was he finally getting through to her? Did she finally recognize him? "Nicole, I don't understand why you're doing this. Don't you remember me? Don't you remember.us?" Terra shut her eyes tightly, and shook her head. "There is no us! There never was! I am Dilandau's, not your's!"
Dilandau saw Terra slide to her knees, and his eyes widened in panic. "Terra? Terra!" Quickly killing his opponent, he rushed to her side. "Terra!" She looked up at him, eyes wide. "D-Dilandau? Where am I? Who.who am I?" Dilandau frowned. 'Dammit, she's fighting the procedure. I can't allow her to remember her love for the dragon. I can't lose her!' "Open your hatch, quickly!" Terra obeyed, and Van gasped.
It was Nicole, but she was different. Her hair was now black, save for a few red streaks. And her eyes were now darker, much darker. He watched as Dilandau opened his melef's hand, and Nicole leapt into it. Dilandau growled at Van, eyes flashing. "If you ever come near her again, I'll slaughter all of those that you hold dear!" Dilandau's melef turned to flight-mode, and Van watched as they took to the sky. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dilandau carried the now dazed Terra to the lab. The scientists and sorcerers looked up from their work and frowned. "Dilandau-sama?" Dilandau laid her down on the metal table, eyes urgent. "The procedure is wearing off. Her love for the dragon is surfacing. I need you to do the procedure again." The scientists shook their heads. "We cannot do that, Dilandau- sama. She will not survive a second operation." Dilandau yelled and struck one of them. "Are you saying that you can't stop her love for him?" The one that was struck nodded, eyes wide. "Gomen-nasai. If we put her through the procedure again, her mind shall be shattered."
"Alright. Her love for him will return once more, but we will not let her leave. I don't care if she loves that stupid dragon. She's mine, and will remain that way. Lock her in my room. I'll be there later." Meanwhile, Terra opened her eyes, and looked up at Dilandau painfully. "D-Dilandau? What's happening to me? What did you.what did you do to me? I'm not really Terra, am I? I'm the girl the dragon spoke of. I'm Nicole. And I'm in love with him, not you. You, you did something to me. You betrayed me." she murmured. Dilandau shook his head.
"No love, I never betrayed you. I, I love you, and I just wanted you to love me too." Terra/Nicole shook her head. "I could never love you after this." Dilandau growled and kissed her hard. When he pulled away, he slapped her. "You don't have to love me, but you will be mine." With that, he stormed out of the room. After he left, the scientists injected something into her veins. "This will make you tired, Terra-san." Terra/Nicole shook her head. "No, I'm not Terra. I'm Nicole, and I love Van. Van.I need Van. Please let me go to him. I need him." she pleaded.
The memories of she and Dilandau had done began to flood her mind, and she wept as she fell asleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It was her. It was Nicole. She was the one that attacked me. But she was different. Everything about her was so much darker. And she was with Dilandau. I don't know what those bastards did to her, but she doesn't remember me at all," Van sulked. He had finally seen her again, but she was so different. Towards the end she began to remember, but than Dilandau came and took her away. Van was too stunned to stop him, too hurt.
'She forgot me. They took her away, and put that 'Terra' girl in her place. They changed her. After all that we've been through, she forgot me. Was it because she was angry with me for saying something in my sleep? Did she put up a fight when they brainwashed her? Did she even care that they did that to her?' Van sighed as he sat on his bed. The others took that as their cue to leave, and did so.
"Van-sama, she loves you. She would never just forget about you. Not willingly. Don't you have faith in her?" The young king shook his head. "I don't know Merle. She was so angry with me before, and then she jumped off a cliff to save me. Now she's someone else and she attacked me. I just don't know what to believe anymore." Merle frowned, and pulled him into a hug. "Underneath it all though, she's still the girl that loves you. You just have to get her back." Van closed his eyes. "I just don't know anymore, Merle. I just don't know." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Nicole sat in a corner in Dilandau's room. She was cold, and the fact that she was in a gown didn't help. She trembled and scratched at her hands. 'I, I attacked Van. How could I? He knew it was me. I knew I was me, somewhere inside. But I couldn't get out. I was buried too far down. Van's never going to forgive me for what I've done. I can't forgive myself. Oh Van, I'm so scared. Please come. Please help me. Van.'
2 Be Continued..