Reclaim Destiny

-A tribute to the fallen Dragon Slayers and their lord Dilandau-

By: SoulStealer

Disclaimer: I don't own Esca.

A/N:

*Sobs* It's the last chap! BTW, I'm sorry if some of you misunderstood but this is the last chapter and then there will be an epilogue, but that's it.

God, I love this fic. But I'm so sorry that the majority of the 'Slayers had to die. Well, here's the final chap…Enjoy.

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Chapter Six

"The Flight"

Sage waited in the hangar as the door opened and the 'Melef's piled in. On a normal day there would be many but today had been bloody. She watched, saddened, as five out of the fifteen stepped in covered in blood—blood that was undoubtedly their own teammates'. Slowly the remaining pilots immerged. They didn't speak; Dilandau, Dallet, and Chest left immediately. Both Gatti and Miguel stood by their Guymelefs before heading toward Sage.

Gatti spoke first in a tired voice. "They're gone…"

Sage nodded. "How bad was it?"

Miguel spoke next, though he didn't meet her eyes. "Bad," he said grimly. "We landed just as the Dragon did. Dilandau ordered for us to attack, only two third of us did. Most didn't believe what you told us. Viole was first, I think he was screaming Dilandau's name. He was cut down. Guimel was next and it continued until we were left. Dilandau ordered a retreat then and here we are now…" he let the sentence hang.

"Why?" Gatti asked abruptly, striking a wall in anger. "Why the hell couldn't they believe you?" He turned his blue gaze on Sage. "If they had believed you they would be alive with us now… Don't you understand, Sage, you saved us—all of us, even Dilandau."

"I—I don't know what to say," Sage said. "I can't influence people's beliefs. I can only tell what might happen and how it might be prevented. Nothing more."

Gatti shook his head. "Nothing more…" he muttered. "Well, not they've paid for their skepticism with death."

"Calm down," Miguel said. "It could have been worse."

In her mind Sage added, "It would have been worse."

***

Dilandau felt his own mind closing in on him. It was their fault, they had died. He trained them to be the best. And yet they were defeated. No they weren't the best, they were weak—like that girl, Sage.

With her in mind, what had Chesta said that morning? She had seen their deaths in this mission, all of their deaths, save his. None of them had really believed her. But… Maybe they had, maybe that was why they died. Had they seen it as inevitable death? Or had the thoughts frightened them into weakness; had they been so involved in pondering her prophecy they were too distracted to fight? Or was it just fate?

Fate.

Dilandau let out a scream at the word. How he hated the word. It was what the war was based upon, the control of Fate. After all, was it not the Destiny War? War was his passion, his fire, yet this blaze had taken away some of the most important people in his life. For a first, Dilandau Albatou felt the lose of war, the hurt of the death of another.

Sinking to his knees he stared down at the hall floor. Yes, there were other Dragon Slayers left, but without the rest the team wasn't complete; the Dragon Slayers no longer could exist. It had changed. It was another change in his life. He hated change almost as much—more possibly—than Fate. It brought back memories, memories suppressed in his mind.

In frount of him stood a demon of his past. She wore a small plaid dress, her hair pulled up in green ribbon matching the dress. She didn't smile, she reached her small rounded hand to meet his face but it never reached.

"Who are you," he asked, his voice shuddering.

The five year old in frount of him reached again. "Are you going to leave me too?" She asked, her voice was begging.

"What?" Dilandau asked, unsure of the response. "What do you want with me?"

"Are you leaving me alone?" she asked again, tears were rising in her blue eyes. "They left you alone didn't they? Will you leave me… alone?" She wasn't asking him to, she was begging him not to.

"Alone…"

The word seemed to repeat itself in his mind thousands of times but he was unaware. The hall had slipped out from under him and the girl was gone. After the darkness had passed he found himself strapped to a bed, dread flooded through him.

***

Breakfast in the Mess hall was to quiet. None of the living 'Slayers spoke, not even to ask where Chesta was. The munched contently on their food in silence, waiting there lord Dilandau.

The door swung open and the four 'Slayer who had been dining turned to the red faced Chesta. Panting and out of breath, Chesta held himself as weakness flooded over him. When enough strength had returned he looked up.

"They've taken Master Dilandau!"

"Who?" Dallet asked in surprise, a spoon half way to his mouth.

"S—sorcier's!" Chesta gasped. "They came last night with the Leopard twins."

Miguel stood up. "Where have they taken him?"

Sage frowned and added: "Why?"

"I don't know!" Chesta said. "Folken said he was ill, but something is not right. I think we should investigate."

"Just to be rational," Dallet said. "What if it's really nothing and he really I ill. He might need expert medical attention."

"No," Gatti said. "The sorcier's aren't what I'd call 'expert medical attention'. They invent things and do experiments, so I wouldn't call them that. They're more interested in dissecting you than healing you."

Sage looked up. "I think something's wrong too. We should go."

***

Dilandau screamed. The sorcerer's faced were all around him, peering eagerly at their new subject. He struggled vainly but to no avail. The bindings on the bed held him tightly and in his frustration he screamed again and again.

"It's getting unstable," one Sorcerer stated.

"What's causing it?" another asked.

A new Sorcerer spoke, "The Human Reformation experiment wasn't perfect."

"Keep this secret from Folken," Another barked. "You know that, don't you?"

Dilandau suppress another scream and called out, "Chesta, Gatti, Dallet, where are you!"

The first Sorcerer to speak spoke again. "It'll get worse. Let's put him to sleep. We'll have to perform another fate change once we get to the mainland."

There was a bang on the hatch door from outside. The Sorcerer's stirred uneasily. They had asked to be left alone hadn't they? Again the bang came, this time harder than before.

"What it this?" Once Sorcerer asked in uncertainty.

The bang was loud enough to echo through the room on the third time. The hinges on the door threatened to burst open and a few cowardly Sorcerers backed up.

"Some one's attacking!"

Dilandau felt a smirk replacing the fear on his face. They had come for him. He knew it.

On the fourth hit the top hinges gave way and three people burst into the room. There was a familiar "shink" sound as swords were drawn. Someone began to cut away the bonds holding him.

"Are you alright Master Dilandau?" Chesta's voice asked. The blonde Dragon Slayer smiled and handed Dilandau his familiar sword.

"Hurry!" Sage's rough voice rang through the chamber, "More guards are coming."

Dilandau licked his lips. Advancing on a Sorcerer he swung his sword and disemboweled the unarmed man. The albino savored the memories of the blood and memorized the blood patterns on the walls. Sweet, sweet revenge…

"HURRY!"

Sage grabbed the commander's arm and pulled him away from the blood bath. The two ran down the halls, Sage apparently knew the way. They stopped as they entered a giant hangar. There was one remaining Alsedies, Miguel, Dallet and Chest were already resting in the 'Melef's arms. Sage and Dilandau ran forward as the Guymelef lowered its arms to help them up.

Once in the arms, the 'Melef flew forward piloted by Gatti. It raised the unused hand at a wall and fired using its flamethrower. The wall exploded with force, making the 'Slayer's cover their faces. They flew forward, through the flames and in to the night air.

"Well," Sage asked. "What now?"

"Nothing," Dilandau said quietly. "You're rescue defied the laws of Zaibach and dishonored the code of the Dragon Slayers."

"Screw the code," Chesta said bitterly. "After the last battle with the Dragon I will never leave a man behind."

"I second," Miguel added. "But Sage is right, we can't just march back to the Vione, Right Dilandau? …Dilandau?"

Miguel frowned. Dilandau's attention was focused on something above them. He stared intently at the right shoulder of the Guymelef. Miguel shook his shoulder slightly, almost feeling the slap that was to come. "Are you alright Master Dilandau?"

Dilandau blinked, the first expression of confusion they had seen passed over his pale features. "Didn't you see her?" He asked and was returned with the blank faces of him ex-'Slayers.

"See what?" Sage asked uncertainly. "Are you alright?"

"Forget it!" Dilandau shrugged.

"Are you positive you're alright?" Chesta asked with concern. But Dilandau had returned to his normal self.

"Yes, I'm fine! Why must you keep bothering me with those weak questions?"

"Geez," Sage grumbled turning away. "Mr. Grumpy."

"WHERE ARE WE GOING?" Dallet hollered, quieting the rest, Dilandau included. "Where the hell are we going?" Again he asked.

"I was thinking," Gatti called from the cockpit. "We leave this war."

"What do you mean?" Chesta asked.

"I mean, there are other places, across the Sea," Gatti continued. "Fanelia, Asturia, Fried, and Zaibach aren't the countries out there."

"Sounds like another adventure," Dallet sighed. "Why not?"

"I'm in!" Miguel piped up. "What about you Sage?"

"As if I have anywhere else to go," she grinned. "Yeah, sounds fun."

Chesta nodded and looked over to Dilandau. "Sir?"

In frount of the Albino's eyes the little girl looked toward Asturia. "I'll never see my brother again…" She said her crystal blue eyes falling on Dilandau.

"But you'll never be alone…" He whispered back.

Chesta's brow furrowed. "What did you say?"

"I said let's go!" Dilandau barked. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the little girl smile slightly.

"I'll never be alone…" She whispered. "I have you, and you have them… I'll never be alone…"

The End…

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A/N: WAIT! Don't go yet, read the epilogue!