Chapter Three

"Hmm………….now that's strange…………." Dornkirk muttered, as Folken stood nearby.

"What is, Dornkirk-sama?" Folken asked, his distaste for saying that barely evident in his voice.

"There is another Draconian out there. He is even more pure than the Dragon." Dornkirk said, as he watched the golden-haired angel fly away from the attack.

"Do you want a squadron to go after and capture him?" Folken asked, genuinely interested now.

"No. I want you to go after him. Bring him back alive, Folken." Dornkirk growled.

"Yes, Dornkirk-sama." Folken muttered, then dismissed himself from the room.

Allen panted as he flew over the mountains. He'd had no idea just how hard it was to fly! From what he could tell, the wind was picking up, signaling that a storm was brewing.

"Not good. The weather's getting worse." Allen mumbled, as he angled his wings and descended to a safer altitude. He turned and looked behind him to make sure that he wasn't being followed, then continued onwards.

"You know, this armor of yours in weighing me down!" Allen muttered, as he landed and started removing the metal that still remained on the youth's person. When he was ready to fly again, Allen then lifted the lifeless youth into his arms and took off, not realizing that he was being followed. Eventually, Allen found the town he'd wanted to find.

"I hope Ruhm is here." Allen thought as he landed near the back door. And waited.

"How do I pull my wings in? Great! I'm a Draconian and I don't even know how to hide my wings!" Allen thought, cursing himself for his own bad luck. His wings, in response to his agitation, ruffled the feathers so now he looked like an agitated game bird. With a sigh of irritation, Allen lay Chesta down on the ground in front of the door and knocked on the door, getting the attention of whoever was inside. As soon as he heard the footsteps coming toward the door, Allen leaped up into the air and flew off, not even daring to look back as he did. A few moments later, Allen heard some wingbeats behind him. Looking back, Allen saw another man behind him, black wings stretching wide to catch the wind.

"Strategos……………….." Allen thought, before folding his wings and diving through the air, in a desperate attempt to escape. The dark winged man followed his move, showing his expertise in flight. Just when things looked hopeless, a familiar and welcome sight came to his eyes; the Crusade! With renewed courage, Allen drew his sword and charged the other man, knocking him aside and heading directly for the Crusade. He yelped when he felt a sharp pain in his left leg and looked down to see that the dark winged man had regained control and caught up with him.

"You are not taking me!" Allen shouted, as he slashed downward, catching the other man in the left arm, leaving a fair sized cut there.

"Allen!" Van's voice shouted from above. Allen looked up just as the Escaflowne descended and grabbed Van's arm when he offered a hand out. The other man growled in frustration and flew off, holding his bleeding left arm with his metal right one.

"Allen, what the………….?! You're a…………..?!?" Van asked, not able to complete his thoughts in words.

"No time to explain, Van! We must get back to Hitomi and Merle! Zaibach was attacking when I left!" Allen shouted, desperately, as Escaflowne docked inside of the Crusade. Gadis was the first one to greet them when Allen and Van got down off of the Escaflowne.

"Boss! You're a sight for sore eyes!" Gadis shouted, gleefully, as he gave his commander a firm handshake.

"Good to see you too, Gadis. I'm sorry to have worried you. Now, we must head to the mountains, Hitomi and Merle are both there, with a new ally." Allen said, as he brushed past Gadis. It was then that Gadis noticed the wings.

"Boss! You're a……………!" Gadis trailed off as his commander gave him an icy glare.

"A what, Gadis? A Draconian?" Allen asked, testily. Gadis nodded, too numbed by shock to say anything else.

"Deal with it. Just because I have wings now, doesn't mean that I am any different than what I was before. Now, tell the men that remain to man their posts; we're going to have to move fast in order to save Hitomi and Merle. Am I making myself clear, Gadis?" Allen asked, letting his commander persona take over.

"Yes sir!" Gadis said, smartly.

"Then get to it!" Allen shouted, as he dashed off to the control room. Van stood frozen to the spot in shock; he'd never seen Allen like that, even when they were evacuating the fort in Astoria! Shaking his head as though to clear it, Van rushed to catch up with Allen, knowing that soon they were going to be reunited with Hitomi and Merle.

Viole cried out as the Schezarade was knocked to the ground. Pain seared through his leg as liquid metal struck it.

"Sir Allen…………….please hurry! I don't know how much more I can take!" Viole thought, as he fought to remain conscious. Then, two of the guymelefs stopped what they were doing and turned away from him, putting their backs to him.

"What the…………..?!" Viole wondered, as two separate voices came to his ears.

"Viole! Is that you in there?" Guimel asked, shouting so Viole could hear him.

"Guimel!" Viole shouted back, not knowing whether to be thankful or to start praying.

"I knew I recognized that fighting style! Dilandau's hell bent on killing you for leaving us and taking Chesta away! We're not going to carry out those orders!" Gatti shouted, as he parried a blow from one of the other 'melefs.

"Gatti! Does this mean you're on our side?" Viole asked, not even daring to hope.

"Absolutely! We can't kill you! All you've had on your mind is the well being of all the DragonSlayers! We're right with you, Viole!" Guimel said, as the Schezarade stood up and stood with the two Zaibach guymelefs.

"One thing's for certain, Dilandau's not gonna be happy about this!" Gatti said, with a laugh, as the Zaibach troops left the area, leaving them all standing there.

"And we should care for what reason? We're not with them any more." Guimel said, as he and Gatti got out and helped Viole get out of the Schezarade. Viole winced when he put weight back onto his injured leg, but smiled when he saw that Hitomi and Merle were safe.

"Viole! Your leg!" Hitomi yelped, as Gatti helped him sit down and Guimel went to retrieve a first aid kit from his guymelef.

"I did that. I didn't know Viole was inside that antiquated 'melef until I saw the technique he was using. I'm sorry about that, Viole." Gatti said, looking ashamed about what had happened. Viole smiled, despite the pain.

"I always knew that you were a sorry shot, Gatti. Besides, my leg will heal; if you'd gotten me anyplace else, I might not have survived. By the way, I would like to introduce you to two of my friends; Hitomi Kanzaki and Merle." Viole said, motioning to each as he said her name.

"'Tis a pleasure to meet fine ladies such as yourselves. Your reputations precede you." Gatti said, with a gentlemanly bow. Both girls blushed.

"Stop flirting, Gatti, it's embarrassing." Guimel said, he walked over, his eyes sparkling as he did so.

"Shut up, sheep boy." Gatti teased, getting a somewhat miffed look from Guimel for a response.

"I am NOT a sheep boy!" Guimel shouted, furiously.

"Baa." Gatti said, running off before Guimel could strangle him. Viole shook his head as the two former DragonSlayers chased one another around, exchanging insults as they went.

"Is this how it was in Zaibach?" Merle asked. Viole shook his head.

"Nope. The Zaibach couldn't stand horseplay or anything that resembled it. The only kind of fun they allowed was cards, chess and other games like that. It was really strict there; all business. You can sure bet that Dilandau is going to raise a fuss about four of his fifteen DragonSlayers left and joined the Dragon." Viole said, looking up as another guymelef landed next to Gatti's.

"Have room for one more, Viole?" a familiar voice asked, as its owner descended from his guymelef.

"Dalet!" Viole shouted, his shout getting Gatti and Guimel's attention. Dalet grinned.

"It seems that the Dragon now has a corp. of his own, now." Dalet said, as they all looked up and saw the Crusade.

"Allen's come for us!" Hitomi shouted, smiling when she saw Allen at the helm, relief plastered across his features.

"Well, it seems that our journey is about to begin. Gatti, Guimel, Dalet, shed the insignia of Zaibach, now." Viole ordered. The three did as they were told, removing their armor and placing it all in a pile in front of them. Soon they were only wearing their black tunics, breeches and boots. They watched as Van emerged from the Crusade and approach them. At first, they didn't know how to react to one another, then Gatti made the first move; he respectfully kneeled before Van and started to speak.

"King Van of Fanelia, I beg your forgiveness of the transgressions we have committed against you and your kingdom while we were in the employ of the Zaibach Empire. We have seen the error of our ways and seek to follow you for the rest of our days." Gatti said, getting startled gasps from Guimel, Dalet, and Viole; none of them had expected that! Van eyed them, carefully, his brown eyes seeking any falsehood in them.

"Gatti speaks the truth, Van. You can trust him and his friends." Hitomi said, watching as Allen emerged from the ship and gazed in astonishment at the now four ex-DragonSlayers. Van sighed, this was a development he'd never imagined would happen.

"If Hitomi says I can trust you, then I will follow what she says. I don't have the means to now, but I will get you some armor that has the Fanelian seal when I get the chance. Now, come on. I've got much to discuss with you four." Van said, as he led them back into the Crusade, actually sound like a king that time. Hitomi smiled, knowing that at least five young men were going to survive, thanks to Viole's visions.

Author's Note!

I know that the DragonSlayers were OOC but it will work out for the better. So please, don't be too cruel in your reviews, okay?

Gemini ^ ^;;;;;;