-----------------------Part 2------------------------------------------------------------------------
Renewals
I unsheathed Iansha and watched in wonder as the blade and scabbard were renewed. The pulsing light filled the room and spilled out into the hall. My wings broke free of their restraints and I automatically pulled them around me and my weapon, as if to hide it from the world. The change was complete and the blade in my hand looked as if it had just been smelted. I lifted it up, held it close to my heart, and spoke the words long lost to these worlds.
Iansha, Esmana la Draconis, ahsra monoa de roch, liamani ra!' I whispered to the sword. I sheathed it lovingly and I had to smile to myself as the largest gem flickered with an inner fire all its own. I laid it down on my bed and as I turned and straightened, there was a knock at the door. Randy was back with my clothes.
Dilandau stepped forward and punched in the code 625' to get the clothes. As soon as he had them, he dismissed Randy curtly.
Thank you Dilandau-sama' he said with a quick bow. He turned and left. I took the clothes from Dilandau and went to the bathroom to change. All the clothes were the right fit. The pants and shirt hugged every curve of my body, as if they had been painted on. I walked out of the bathroom and as I sat down to pull my boots on, I saw Dilandau snap his jaw shut out of the corner of my eye.
What did that phrase mean?' he asked.
'Iansha, Sword of the Dragon, true only to one, welcome back.'' I answered.
Oh'
Can I use your private gym? Not now, but when I want?' I asked.
Yea. It's six doors down the right from the main training room. The code's 529' he told me. I braided my hair and hooked my sword belt on.
Let's go to training' I suggested. So we went.
The training room was full of Slayers and talk. Most of the talk centered around how I was awake and quite healthy. As soon as the click of the door was heard, every Slayer froze and stood at attention. Everyone was there and Guimel had a bandage around his upper arm.
Relax' I said with a smile. Dilandau set about training each Slayer himself and anyone who wasn't thus occupied came by to say hi. I was introduced to a new Slayer who, surprisingly, was a girl by the name of Kiki. She didn't seem giddy or scared to be surrounded by so many guys.
You mind if I ask you some questions?' I queried.
No prob' she replied. Shoot'
Where ya from?' I asked.
I don't think you'll believe it' Kiki said.
Try me' I replied.
Fanelia' she stated calmly.
Kay, I believe ya' I said.
I have a question for you' she told me.
Ask away' I answered.
You attacked Fanelia, killed 46 guards, and captured Allen Schezar, right?' Kiki asked.
Right' I started to pay a little more attention at mention of this.
You jumped through a window, in the process disturbing two lovers, to retrieve a dagger, right?' she queried.
Yes' I replied.
One was my mother. The man was not my father'
I see'
I ran away. About a mile from the city, I discovered a Zaibach camp and ended up here'
Ok. How old are you?'
17'
How long have you been here?'
Two weeks'
How many times have you been slapped by Dilandau?'
Why?'
Gives me an idea of your personality'
13'
Stubborn is useful'
Alright'
This is just for us girls, but, who's the hottest'
That's a tuffy'
I know'
Chesta's a big baby and too loyal, but he has nice eyes'
Guimel needs a haircut'
Gatti's too loyal, but he's still stubborn sometimes'
Miguel's hot, kinda stubborn, just right'
Viole's just plain wrong'
That Randy guy's pretty hot, but I've heard he's a bit of a wimp'
True'
Now Dilandau, he's a hottie. I wish he weren't the leader'
Hand's off, he's mine' I smiled.
I've heard about you. You're the only person who can stand up to the master and live to tell about it. Jessica, right?'
You are correct sir. Let's talk later. Dilly looks fierce' I watched as he stalked over to Chesta, said something forceful and slapped him hard at his reply.
I'll help you out for now' I said as we struck our fighting stances.
First, most guys think you're weak. Prove em wrong' She charged and I spun to block it.
Second, find your opponents weaknesses and use them to your advantage' She swung her legs at mine to trip me, but I jumped. I attacked her open side, so she blocked quickly.
Don't let your defenses down even if you think the other is dead. Slit the throat or stab the heart' We started circling each other, looking for an opening to attack. I charged and at the last second I dropped and kicked her feet out from under her. She automatically went into a summersault and was up again in an instant.
Good! Never give up. You will gain stamina and control; use them' We circled again and she charged first. I spun again and she ran past me.
Some people will toy with you. Use your anger as a power boost, but don't ever go blind with rage or you will die at the first stroke' She charged again and our swords locked for a second before I used the momentum to flip her over and onto her back. I was up in an instant and as she moved to get up I put my foot on her chest and my sword at her throat.
Most of all, respect those that deserve it. Mock the fools' With that, I reached down to help her up.
Nice remark' she said with a grin.
Hopefully you'll do more mocking than respecting' As I reached to sheathe my sword, I noticed that my hand was shaking. *God am I that weak?* Then, that feeling again. Only this time, stronger, less patient. That feeling of unbelievable power, just waiting to be released. It scared me.
Hey, Kiki?'
Ya'
I'm gonna go workout, train with the other Slayers'
Gotchya' She walked off.
As I left the room I could feel Dilandau's stare boring a hole in my back, but he didn't stop me, so I kept going. When I got to the gym, it seemed rather expansive for a private facility, but hey, it was Dilly. It felt good to burn up my muscles with use. I worked my arms, abs, and legs thirty minutes each. When I stood up to go, I felt like I was going to collapse, but that was good. The kind of muscles I like to work up are flat and wiry, but incredibly strong, that could be hidden under my tanned skin. The two things I'm really proud of are my grip and my speed. I had hands strong enough to crush bone in one palm. I had speed and agility, developed from soccer, to envy a jaguar.
I got back to my room and took a quick shower. After putting on my Slayer uniform and braiding my hair, I took off to the hangar to figure out the melefs. I took with me the energist I had stolen from Fanelia since mine had been destroyed. I stretched as I went to keep my sore muscles from cramping up. When I got to the hanger, the Slayers were standing at attention, each in front of their own melef, waiting for Dilandau's word.
Go' he said. They went. I jumped up to my melef and placed the energist where it belonged. It melted into the metal and the guy was fully operational once again. As soon as I jumped into the cockpit, however, an immense change took place. The stocky arms lengthened and grew hands. The crima claw and flamethrower attachment moved to my wrists, giving each hand four nozzles, two for the claws, two for the flamethrowers. The gigantic shoulders disappeared to from a jet black cape. The stealth cloak device was still there, but I didn't have to wrap the cape around myself. The fly mode still involved a bit of changing, but now included jet engines. My sword vanished and appeared again, hovering in front of me, now proportional to the size of the melef. The last, and most important, change was in the way the melef was directed. Instead of being surrounded by fluid, the guy was controlled directly from my mind, leaving my hands free to manipulate the control panel in front of me. I could program the melef to answer to my touch and mind only, I could fly like a fighter jet, I could turn into a dragon, I could program it to send out jolts of electricity, I could program the entire cockpit to be clear to my eyes, and many other things. I could even pilot it while outside the thing. *Now, the name's here somewhere...* I thought as I glanced around the cockpit. Then I spotted it in gold engraving near the top of the cockpit. *Zelas. Hmm. Fitting, I suppose.*
Nice' I said. The silence was too loud.
Slayers, move out' Dilandau's voice crackled over the intercom. Every melef switched to fly mode and dropped out of the vione. We all landed in a field full of long grass bending in the wind.
Slayer Randy, Officer Jessica, step forward' Dilandau ordered. He must really be in a good mood, I thought as I stepped up.
Fighting stances' We complied.
Spar' The word was a mere whisper. We circled each other and I could feel the tension of the group.
Randy shot a burst of flame at me, so I dodged under it and charged forward. He quickly formed a sword with the crima metal and blocked my attack. He shoved me away, so I slashed at him as I backed off. I shot the crimas on my left hand and he blocked, but one wrapped around his right wrist. While he was a bit trapped, I shot the claws on my right hand so they hit the cockpit but didn't tear him to shreds. I had a flash of premonition just before a crima shot towards me from the back. I dodged just before it struck my melef. I turned to face the red guymelef. I went invisible and stepped to his back.
I know where you are' he whispered.
Then find me' I answered.
He turned and faced me.
How do you learn so quickly?' he asked.
I manage' I replied. He tried to torch me, but I dodged again. Still invisible, I went into fly mode and left.
Slayers! Train!' he shouted just before giving chase. I led him far from the training field towards the ocean. I didn't bother with the stealth cloak anymore because he could see me somehow anyway. I landed on the beach and he tried to flame me again, and again I dodged. We fought for the longest time, never getting more then a scratch on our guys. We fought until I was exhausted and could barley lift my sword in defense. Seeing his opportunity, Dilandau simply pushed me over. My melef crashed to the ground. I opened the cockpit and crawled over to the edge of the woods, inch by inch, step by step. I plopped down on the thick grass and fell instantly asleep.
What woke me up was a deep snuffling sound. I opened my eyes groggily. I was fully awake in an instant at what met my eyes. A long, scaly, snake-like water dragon was inspecting my melef. I liked it too much to let some dragon tear it apart. I stood up slowly, never taking my eyes off the creature. I silently reached for my daggers, hidden in my boots. I launched one after the other in quick succession and they struck true. The dragon screamed in rage and pain as its vision was robbed. It started to retreat into the sea, but I bolted forward and jumped over my melef, drawing my sword in the process. I sliced open the dragon's chest, mindless of what it could do to me. Dark, almost black blood spewed out, covering me in the thick slime. The beast screamed one last time at its unseen attacker before it fell dead at my feet. I sliced its chest again and I found the precious drag-eneregist, pulsing blood red. I pried it out and watched the dragon melt into the water. And instead of just being felt, that tingle of power exploded in my veins. I felt like a god! Like nothing could harm me, not even touch me. With that explosion of sensation, the energist in my hand glowed brighter, and for a second, a mere wisp of time, in truth it might not have happened, it burst into flame and seared my hand as quick as summer lightning. I nearly dropped it. When I turned around again, I finally took notice of my surroundings. Dilandau had been sleeping next to me and had woken up while I was busy with the dragon. It was sunset of the same day and the vione was much closer than before. I finally stretched my sore muscles and walked over to my melef. I climbed up to the energist but I debated whether or not to use it. *What harm could it do?* Just before I inserted the energist, I stopped. It could wait. My melef was operational now, why waste a good power source? I tucked the red energist away in my pocket and climbed into my melef. *Once again, the prediction comes true.*
Let's go back' I said. Dilandau climbed into his melef and we took off.
That was a water dragon' he said.
Yes, I know' I answered.
Most master swordsmen are scared of land dragons. A sea dragon is more powerful'
I see' We were silent for the rest of the trip.
-----------------------------------
Lord Dornkirk!' The shadow was gasping for air as it ran into the chamber.
What now?' The screen came to life once again to show an unhappy Dornkirk.
The experiment has failed! *gasp* The subject survived and *wheeze*killed the sea dragon! I have failed' The shadow finally realized its situation.
What!? She survived??! That's impossible! no one has ever survived before. This stupid dragon is clouding my vision again and now this?! The only option left is the fate altering machine'
But....Lord Dornkirk! The machine failed last time! It killed me! If we invoke it now the whole vione will surely be destroyed!' the shadow argued.
Yes, but do you have a better idea?!'
I suggest we set all her loved ones against her to the point that she kills herself'
Yes......that could work, but have you the serum?'
In volumous supply' The cruel smile returned to the shadow's face as the screen went black once again.
------------
The next two weeks went without a hitch. I went to Dilandau's gym at least twice a day, more when I was pissed, and worked up muscles fiercer than ever before. Dilandau started a new motivation' for the Slayers. We began to have races once every week. I dominated these tests until Dilandau was in the running. He could still leave anyone in the dust. The energist I had worked for stayed either tucked away in my room, or it was safely in one of my pockets, and none of the other Slayers knew it existed. After training hard for two weeks, I was up to par with Dilandau. As in our spars never stopped until we both literally fell over with exhaustion. Dilly began to have groups attack one Slayer, adding and adding as the one got better. Dil himself could take on eleven Slayers and win; so could I. Over and over again, that strange feeling of absolute power would make itself known to me, but never as harsh as the day of the dragon's death. One thing different than before was that Randy was being trained by Folken. I didn't know what he was training as or for, it was top-secret'. I just knew he didn't come to Slayer training anymore, and started wearing a cloak at all times, just like the Strategos. I just hope he doesn't get as corrupted as Folken.
(The fifteenth day after I woke up.)
I woke up at the same time as Dilly that day. Which was four in the morning. I stretched and got on my favorite outfit; black leather pants, backless red tie-behind-the-neck shirt, Slayer armor, knee high (or thigh high) boots. I had long since cut slits in my armor to accommodate for my wings; I took getaway trips every night. Dilandau dressed in his usual and we both grabbed our swords. We stayed silent, but neither of us minded. We walked over to his gym and he punched in the code to the door. We both took off our armor and got to work. I had found that I could work my wings with some of the equipment. After two hours of intense work outs, it was time to start training. I got on my armor again and headed over to the large room. I opened it up and turned on all the lights. Dilandau walked in about ten minutes later to find me sitting against a wall thinking.
I was remembering my life on Earth. It was hard to believe that three months ago I had never even held a sword before. I could imagine how much my mom and my sister missed me. They probably had the police out looking for me. Man! I missed my friends. Blade, Jason, Jade, Amber, Nadia. I missed my boyfriend too. Mark had been so nice to me and it had broken my heart to have to leave him at summer. What if I could go back? What would I say had happened to me? Would it work to say I was kidnapped? My mom would be estatic to see me, sure, but she would be heartbroken to learn that I wanted to go back.
My thoughts were interrupted by Dilandau, who sat down next to me.
Thinking of home?' he asked.
How'd you guess?' I asked in a tired voice.
The look of painful memories is unmistakable' he answered.
I want to go back'
I know'
But I don't want to stay' He seemed surprised at my words. His hand reached up and stroked my face. It was ungloved. I closed my eyes at my bodies response as I leaned into his hand.
Do you want to see the Mystic Moon?' I asked quietly.
Yes' he answered. I stood slowly and pulled him up. As soon as he stood, I unfolded my wings and he followed suit. I opened the door and took off as fast as I could go towards the melef hangar. Dilandau could beat me in sprints, but not when I had my wings. I reached the hangar and leaped out; my momentum carried me far from the vione. Dilandau wasn't far behind. I let my self drop farther and farther, not bothering to pull out of the dive until I nearly hit the ocean. I ran across the water towards the shore; letting my wings support my weight. I turned midair and stopped so abruptly that Dilandau slammed into me. I pushed him a bit away and took his hand.
I need you to give me strength. The spell is not easy. If I pass out, don't worry' He nodded. I laced my fingers in his and began chanting the powerful Atlantean spell. I can't tell you what I said. I can't remember. As I continued, the words grew louder and louder, and louder still until I was shouting. After two minutes of chanting, I passed out, but my mind and mouth continued to form words. I felt strength pouring from Dilandau and knew he would soon be spent. Right when I thought he would pass out, the spell was activated. When I uttered the final word, a bright pillar of light shot up from the ground and surrounded us. We were lifted away, leaving a trail of stardust that lead to the Mystic Moon.
o GOD that is LONG!! sowy. i do better next time ^^ a/n; zelas' is a name i got from a picture i found of dil-chan by someone else, i dont know who, and it doesn't really have a meaning, but here it means war' or the demon's war' just so u know. R&R!!!!!! i KNOW you like it!
-Lil Pyro
