The Next Generation 11
Magicman: Hello all! Don't worry. Dilandau-with-a-cowboy-hat is just fine. Smokegirl and I managed to restrain Dilandau before he could use his flame-thrower. And now folks, all hell breaks loose on Gaea. You guessed it! Kriggen makes his play for the Escaflowne! Well? Why are you still reading my ramblings? The fic's a waiting!
The sun had set, plunging Fanelia into a blackness so deep and cold that even the boldest of men would feel the fear clutch at their hearts. There was no moon tonight, and a thick blanket of clouds covered the sky. The shrine of Escaflowne was empty and lifeless. The great guymelef stood tall among the trees like a monument to times long past.
This was the sight that Kriggen saw through his binoculars. The man sat in Akagi, his own guymelef, and smiled grimly. "With that hunk of junk in my control, Kasar will really have to pay up!" Chortling, he pressed a button on his communicator. "Group one. Move in now."
"I copy my Lord." The voice replied.
Kriggen settled back to watch the show. The view through the binoculars was remarkably good. Fifteen of his men, five in guymelefs, the rest on foot, approached the shrine where the obsolete 'melef stood. The guymelefs were armed with cables, which they would use to grasp hold of the Escaflowne and hoist it back to base. The men moved openly, not bothering to hide themselves. This place was empty. No one was going to challenge them!
That theory was thrown out the window a second later as a massive explosion rocked the grove. Kriggen dropped his binoculars, but he didn't need them to see the flash of light or hear the screams. He growled in frustration. What the hell was going on?
Finally, he regained his binoculars. What he saw through them made fury and rage well up through his body. A large blackened spot and a few licks of flames among ashes were all that was left of a good portion of his men. Three guymelefs and five men had died in that blast, and one thought now hit Kriggen like a ton of bricks.
"Someone knows we're here." He growled. Activating his com link again, he snapped out orders. "Team one, proceed with extra caution. Be on guard for more surprises and any visitors we may have. Team two, prepare to support them at any sign of attack."
Not waiting for a reply, Kriggen glared at the shrine once again. Before it had seemed so quiet and peaceful without a single human presence. Now it was a potential death trap.
The remaining soldiers of team one continued to move forward with considerably more caution than before. Moving in pairs, they checked every inch of ground before them for signs of disturbance. They managed to reach the Escaflowne without taking any more losses.
The two surviving guymelefs followed in the wake of the foot troops. They stepped over them, and raised their arms. Cables shot from their hands and they wrapped around Escaflowne's arms.
Kriggen watched all this, smiling. Despite the earlier mishap, all was going according to plan. Maybe that bomb was planted as a singular defense.
Suddenly, the Escaflowne gave a tremendous jerk on the cables restricting it. Caught off guard, the Mystics' guymelefs were nearly pulled over. Jettisoning the cables, they managed to stay on their feet. But they had mere seconds of activity left. Escaflowne drew its giant sword and slammed it into the energist casing of an enemy. The other guymelef managed to draw its sword and attack. Escaflowne blocked its blow easily and slammed its fist into its shoulder, knocking the sword away. The Mystic ejected from his guymelef and surrendered to the Fanelian soldiers pouring from the woods. The foot soldiers did likewise.
The Escaflowne faced the woods where the rest of Kriggen's forces hid. It raised its visor to reveal the face of Van Fanel. The king's eyes were cold and hard, like diamonds. They glared into the forest and seemed to pierce Kriggen right through the soul. Kriggen's heart clenched. He was afraid this would happen! The Dragon had his sword! And he was going to kill them all!
Kriggen had fought at Freid. An unknown mercenary, he had managed to survive when so many of his fellows had been killed. He had seen Fanel fight, and he had seen the Dragonslayers, the best fighters in Zaibach, hang back in fear at his wrath. Yes, Kriggen had seen the Dragon roar before. And he was not eager to see him do so again.
"Violators of Escaflowne's shrine! I command you to stand down. Drop your weapons and surrender, and I promise that you will not be harmed." Van's voice echoed through the clearing, inspiring fear and awe in his enemies. Kriggen was more than willing to obey, but.
"Ignore him Kriggen."
Kriggen twisted in his seat. "Kasar? What the hell?"
The flat, dead voice continued to speak. "General Veers has ordered that this mission succeed. And to do that, I must pull you out of this mess you've entombed yourself in."
"Don't talk to me like that, you-"
"Shut up! You have already angered me by deviating from the plan! Don't try me again. Or I swear it will take an eternity for you to die!"
Kriggen was taken aback and did not answer. Kasar continued.
"In a short time, my forces will attack the king. When we do, you will attack too. I will handle the soldiers. But you are going to capture the Escaflowne tonight. I don't care how you do it, but get me that guymelef!"
The voice stopped talking. Kriggen assumed Kasar was finished.
The mercenary general watched Van, wariness and caution keeping him back. But Kasar's threat urged him on. Kriggen didn't know what kind of power that man had, but he was better off fighting Van.
He activated his com link again. "Teams two and three, attack on my command".
"Yes sir."
Kriggen felt a surge of eagerness, and he realised that he actually wanted to fight Van Fanel. To fight the best. To be the best. That is the dream of every fighter. And Kriggen was no exception. Smiling grimly, he fingered the controls to Akagi and walked out into the open. Right into the path of Van Fanel.
***
All eyes in the clearing fixed onto the titanium-blue guymelef that stepped from the forest.
"Van Fanel". A raspy, growly, voice came from the guymelef.
Van was unphased. "Lay down your weapons and be taken prisoner".
"Why should I?"
"If you do so, then you will live. If not, you will die."
"It's not so easy as that, you Majesty. First you would have to kill us. And that may not be as easy as it seems. However, there's always an alternative. And this situation has one that could prevent bloodshed."
"And that is?"
"Give us the Escaflowne, and we will leave in peace. Refuse and we will kill you."
"I don't think I can follow those terms."
"I didn't think so."
With those four words, scores of black clothed men jumped from the forest. They made no sound. They simply charged the Fanelian force, swords drawn in a lethal manner. The mercenaries followed their leader as he charged straight toward the Escaflowne, and many armoured soldiers burst from the wood and joined the fight.
Battle was joined.
***
Experience had taught Yukari to expect a fight. It wasn't any special powers; it was plain common sense. Men bold enough to try and steal the most powerful guymelef ever built were obviously not going to let anybody stop them. So, as always, she dressed for the occasion.
Yukari's splint mail was modified to suit her and her alone. No one else could comfortably wear it, as it was designed for her form. A thick, lightweight breastplate covered her front, accenting her figure in the process. Steel chain mail ran down her arms and legs. Jewelled bracers adorned her forearms, plates protected her calves and thighs, and a steel 'skirt' came down from her waist (A/N: Sort of like the Saiyan armour from Dragonball Z.). She wore no helmet, preferring to keep her head free, and her earrings were visible, even in this hideous light.
Looking over at her brother, Yukari sighed. "You are aware that there's going to be a fight, right?"
Setto smiled cheerfully. As usual, he was clad in his many pocketed jacket, and derelict jeans. "Yeah, I know."
"And you are aware that in fights people generally try to kill you, right?"
Setto shook his head. "I know where you're going. I can never fight in armour. It's too restrictive. My manoeuvrability is my best weapon, not my bombs."
"I just don't understand you, brother. I really don't."
Any other conversation was forestalled, because Kriggen stepped from the forest. The twins shut up to hear the brief verbal battle. Yukari's grip tightened on her katana. The words ended, and troops burst from the forest like ants whose nest has been disturbed.
Yukari drew her sword, the blade glinting dully in the torchlight. Then she cried out a challenge and charged.
Battle was joined on both sides. The Fanelians faced a strange combination of Mystic foot soldiers, the Basramian elite guard (aka: the Silver Serpents), and the all too familiar black clothed sand assassins.
One of these assassins targeted Yukari. Springing forward with inhuman speed, it slashed downward brutally. Yukari blocked and then kicked out, catching it on the hip. When it stumbled back, she decapitated it with one stroke. The clothes fell apart, sand spilling onto the ground.
Pulling back, she slammed the hilt of her sword into the gut of a Serpent. His heavy armour absorbed the blow and he locked swords with Yukari, who could barely see the man's face through his hideous helmet. Twisting her sword, she broke free and kicked him in the jaw. Her armoured boot struck the helmet with a dull clang, and the man shook his head dazedly. Yukari ran him through quickly and looked for another target.
Suddenly, another explosion went off. Setto's defenses seemed to be working. Grinning, Yukari reflected on how her brother occasionally could do something right.
Half a dozen men rushed her from the front, only to be thrown away by one of Yukari's force blows. That did not deter others, however, and soon she was wading through a sea of hostile faces and armoured bodies. A wide smile cracked her face, and soon the laughter that had made her father, and then her mother famous echoed through the clearing.
***
Setto watched the battle from the top of his rock. His short bow was out and he was waiting for a target. There! He released an arrow and a sand assassin blew up in a fountain of fire and sand. Another arrow was released, and another target went up. Then another. And another.
By this time, however, the enemy had noticed his existence. A trio of assassins leaped to the top of his vantage point, and Setto was forced to abandon his ideal sniper position. Grabbing up his quiver of arrows, he flashed a grin at them and slid down the rock.
He was attacked upon landing. Two Silver Serpents were advancing, swords drawn. Looking back, Setto saw the ninja-men drop to the ground behind him. "Oh dear" he said.
Reaching into one of his pockets, Setto pulled out a tiny black ball. He threw it onto the ground just as the five whom wanted his blood lunged for him. A black cloud of smoke engulfed the group, and amidst the flailing of fists and weapons, Setto managed to escape. Brushing off his shirt, he looked back at the cloud and was surprised to see the five still flailing away. Shaking his head, he ran off into the battle.
***
Yukari finished off her last opponent with an upward thrust. The rest, not too keen on facing the young wildwoman, ran. Looking about for another target, she caught sight of something that made her grin maliciously.
Kasar was strolling through the battle as if it were a sunny field. He watched the carnage as if it was an interesting sight at a museum. He casually stepped over the bodies of men as if they were stones in his path. Suddenly, his gaze turned to Yukari, and his black eyes seemed to smile.
Yukari strode forward, her sword in her fist. Casually, she beheaded an attacker, not even breaking her stride. When she was ten feet away, she stopped.
"Good evening Mr. Kasar". Yukari's voice was cheerful, though her smile said otherwise. "A pleasant night for a stroll, eh?"
Kasar nodded his head to her. "A good evening it is young lady. It would seem that the local fauna is active tonight." He watched a pair of soldiers fight for a moment before turning back to Yukari. "So, what brings you here?"
Yukari simply shrugged. "Oh the usual. You know how it is." She eyed Kasar shrewdly. "But I think you have some purpose here, am I right?"
Kasar smiled slightly. "Quite right. My lord, General Veers, has entrusted me to bring him the Escaflowne battle machine. With that weapon of prophecy in his grasp, no one will be able to stop him." Turning, he watched Kriggen and Van hammer away at each other. "Kriggen is doing quite well, actually. He just might win and save me a great deal of trouble."
Yukari lifted her upper lip. "You're the one who's in trouble!" she snarled. "I don't know how, but you're responsible for all of this!"
Kasar chuckled slightly. "Now that's not true. Yes, I planned all the assassin attacks. And yes, this battle is mostly my doing. But the real mastermind is General Veers. It's his ambition that drives his armies of conquest and his genius that ensnares the fools of the neighbouring kingdoms. He is the one you should fear, not I. For he will rule the world someday."
"Well, then I'll just have to deal with him once I'm done with you!" Channelling her will, Yukari thrust out her palm. The air rippled as the mass of pure force blasted toward the smirking Kasar. The blast hit with a sharp crack.
And did absolutely nothing.
Yukari's eyes widened. "That's impossible!"
Kasar shook his head in disappointment. "I'm surprised at you, my dear. If a warrior like you can throw pathetic little pot shots at me, then what do you think a master sorcerer can do?" His mouth widened in an evil grin. His gloved hands formed intricate symbols in the air and he chanted strange and eerie words.
Instinctively, Yukari threw herself to the left. A giant bolt of lightning spat from the sky striking the ground an instant where she had been. Rolling, she got up and faced the chanting voice of the enemy. Dodging a fireball, she ducked and rolled, crashing into the legs of the sorcerer. Pinning his arms to the ground, she smirked triumphantly.
The smirk faded when his eyes brightened to star-white globes. Yukari twisted and the beams of white hot light missed her by a fraction of an inch, passing so close that it sizzled her armour.
Getting up, Yukari's sword was drawn and ready. She waited for the next magical attack.
Slowly staggering to his feet, Kasar made a gold and silver staff appear from mid air. Clutching his weapon, he smiled grimly. "This is going to give me a considerable amount pleasure!"
"What's the matter with you?" Yukari taunted the vengeful sorcerer. "Didn't your mother teach you not to pick on girls?"
"Yes she did. But I never really listened." Kasar pointed his staff at Yukari. Sensing danger, she ducked, and a tree she was standing in front of was engulfed in a jet of searing hot flame.
Rolling over, Yukari stood up, just as Kasar launched another spell. She braced herself for the pain that must surely come. The spell connected with a flash of green light. But when the light cleared, Yukari felt nothing but a strange tingling all over her entire body.
Kasar's face exhibited pure triumph, and he stalked closer as if he feared nothing. Yukari tried to attack him, but the tingling sensation only grew stronger. Panicked, she struggled harder, but the tingling grew so strong it was painful! She couldn't move!
Kasar leered right into the face of his intended victim. "You didn't really think you could take on me and win? The arrogance of youth these days". He shook his head. "I'd like time to torture you properly for being such an interfering wretch, but I'm afraid I haven't the time. I must bring the Escaflowne to my lord." He levelled his staff at Yukari's face. Purple energy began to glow at its head. "Goodbye my dear".
A trail of steely light slashed through the night. It struck Kasar's staff, knocking it free. Without the magic being focused through it, the purple glow died. Kasar had other problems, however. He hissed as a dagger stuck into his right arm. Clutching his arm, he fell back, nearly tripping on his crippled leg.
Mark stood between the mage and his prey. "You'll have to go through me sorcerer!"
Kasar hissed again, this time in pure fury. But then he frowned as a new sound struck the clearing.
A floating fortress of Zaibach design had decloaked above the battlefield zone. A stream of guymelefs were launching from it's hangar bay. The unexpected reinforcements landed with resounding THWUMPs, and they immediately cut into the nearest of Kasar's forces. The Fanelians, exhausted from the fighting, cheered, and fought with renewed vigour.
Kasar saw the situation and realised that it was hopeless. Reaching out an arm, his staff leaped into his hand. Glaring maliciously at the two teenagers he smiled evilly. "I will see you another time. Perhaps sooner than you think! Oh yes. I'll be sure to tell you mother of what happened here!" Whirling, he shouted a word. A black hole opened in the air and he lunged through it. The portal hung for a minute but faded shortly.
Mark turned and held up Yukari. Without the power of Kasar's spell holding her, she felt exhausted. "Are you alright?"
She nodded wearily. "Yeah. I'm just tired like hell."
Mark sat down on the bloody ground, holding Yukari to his chest. Wearily, she hugged him gratefully. Safe in each other's arms, they watched the rest of the battle wind down.
***
Akagi and Escaflowne were the last remaining combatants on the field. All the others had been killed or captured by the Dragonslayers. It seemed that Setto had called them in the day before. Now, they joined the Fanelian soldiers in cheering on Van as he fought desperately against a skilled opponent who knew he had nothing to lose.
Kriggen hurled his main weapon, a chakrum on a chain, at Van. Sparks flashed as the dervish struck Escaflowne's sword and bounced off. Closing the distance between the two 'melefs, Van charged. Kriggen met him with a scimitar and for a second the blades crossed.
Akagi's motors strained under the fierce pressure of Escaflowne's sword, and Kriggen punched furiously at the controls. The tyrant fought fiercely and with great skill. He deflected many of Van's blows, but he could not stop them all. Once, Van's sword grazed his energist case, nearly overloading the jewel. That was the moment Kriggen realised that he could not win, that he would be killed. The knowledge did not bother him. It merely made him change tactics.
While his sword arm held off Van's weapon, Kriggen brought his other arm to bear, he hurled the chakrum in a wide circle. Whirling around, the bladed disk missed both guymelefs, but it's chain wrapped around them both. Their swords were trapped against each other, and neither war machine could move.
"Kriggen you coward!" Van howled in rage. "Are you afraid to fight me?"
The maniac laughed. "Coward? Me? I'll give you coward!" He grabbed a switch and yanked it down. Akagi's energist immediately began to flash. Dully at first, the light grew brighter as the power flow was disrupted. Van watched in horror as steam started blasting from any opening that it could find.
"You're insane! You're overloading your own guymelef! Stop this now, before it blows!"
"You'd like me to do that, wouldn't you". Kriggen leered evilly as his systems continued their inexorable process. "I may die, but I'm taking you and a lot of people with me!" He started to laugh. Oh, revenge was so sweet! It was a shame he wouldn't be able to see Hitomi's face when she found out that her dear friend had been killed, but you couldn't make an omelette without breaking some eggs.
Van struggled desperately to break free of the chain that bound him to this madman. It was no use. Kriggen really was going to go through with this! In desperation, Van hit a switch of his own. The joints on Escaflowne twisted and snapped together, forming a new shape. Wings stretched out, a tail came forth, and a head burst forth, roaring defiance at all things earthly. Catching the chain in its mighty claws, Escaflowne heaved and it shattered. The dragon flew into the sky as the men and women on the ground scattered from impending destruction.
Akagi was shaking from the forces built up inside of its infrastructure. It seemed to sag for a moment. Then, with an earth shattering blast, it exploded. The flash made the night day for an instant. Then it died down, metal pieces raining from the sky.
The Battle of the Shrine was over.
***
The fighters of the battle were celebrating. Fanelian guardsmen sat side by side with the Dragonslayers, each of them talking loudly about their exploits. A small group of men had started a game of cards. Chesta was winning, as usual.
Van was seated at the head of his table, allowing the men to savour their victory. He knew it wouldn't last.
He was right. A man dashed through the door, stopping at the end of the table. "Your Majesty!" he huffed, "I have urgent news concerning the royal seer!"
Instant silence. Yukari's heart clenched as she remembered what Kasar had said.
"Well, then read it." Van felt a similar clench of fear as the man unrolled his scroll.
"Your Majesty, it seems that a battle took place a few kilometres west of Palas. Scouts reported flashes of fire in the night, and when they went to investigate the next morning, they found signs of a battle. Six guymelefs of Basramian design were found, totally destroyed. Alongside them were two badly damaged Alseides units. One of them was blood red, the other was green and black. They were identified as belonging to Dilandau and Hitomi Albatou. Neither body was recovered." The man finished.
Into the silence, Yukari stood up. A tear slowly running down her face, she opened her mouth and, filled with the anguish and hate of a dragon whose mate has been killed, screamed.
Magicman: Hello all! Don't worry. Dilandau-with-a-cowboy-hat is just fine. Smokegirl and I managed to restrain Dilandau before he could use his flame-thrower. And now folks, all hell breaks loose on Gaea. You guessed it! Kriggen makes his play for the Escaflowne! Well? Why are you still reading my ramblings? The fic's a waiting!
The sun had set, plunging Fanelia into a blackness so deep and cold that even the boldest of men would feel the fear clutch at their hearts. There was no moon tonight, and a thick blanket of clouds covered the sky. The shrine of Escaflowne was empty and lifeless. The great guymelef stood tall among the trees like a monument to times long past.
This was the sight that Kriggen saw through his binoculars. The man sat in Akagi, his own guymelef, and smiled grimly. "With that hunk of junk in my control, Kasar will really have to pay up!" Chortling, he pressed a button on his communicator. "Group one. Move in now."
"I copy my Lord." The voice replied.
Kriggen settled back to watch the show. The view through the binoculars was remarkably good. Fifteen of his men, five in guymelefs, the rest on foot, approached the shrine where the obsolete 'melef stood. The guymelefs were armed with cables, which they would use to grasp hold of the Escaflowne and hoist it back to base. The men moved openly, not bothering to hide themselves. This place was empty. No one was going to challenge them!
That theory was thrown out the window a second later as a massive explosion rocked the grove. Kriggen dropped his binoculars, but he didn't need them to see the flash of light or hear the screams. He growled in frustration. What the hell was going on?
Finally, he regained his binoculars. What he saw through them made fury and rage well up through his body. A large blackened spot and a few licks of flames among ashes were all that was left of a good portion of his men. Three guymelefs and five men had died in that blast, and one thought now hit Kriggen like a ton of bricks.
"Someone knows we're here." He growled. Activating his com link again, he snapped out orders. "Team one, proceed with extra caution. Be on guard for more surprises and any visitors we may have. Team two, prepare to support them at any sign of attack."
Not waiting for a reply, Kriggen glared at the shrine once again. Before it had seemed so quiet and peaceful without a single human presence. Now it was a potential death trap.
The remaining soldiers of team one continued to move forward with considerably more caution than before. Moving in pairs, they checked every inch of ground before them for signs of disturbance. They managed to reach the Escaflowne without taking any more losses.
The two surviving guymelefs followed in the wake of the foot troops. They stepped over them, and raised their arms. Cables shot from their hands and they wrapped around Escaflowne's arms.
Kriggen watched all this, smiling. Despite the earlier mishap, all was going according to plan. Maybe that bomb was planted as a singular defense.
Suddenly, the Escaflowne gave a tremendous jerk on the cables restricting it. Caught off guard, the Mystics' guymelefs were nearly pulled over. Jettisoning the cables, they managed to stay on their feet. But they had mere seconds of activity left. Escaflowne drew its giant sword and slammed it into the energist casing of an enemy. The other guymelef managed to draw its sword and attack. Escaflowne blocked its blow easily and slammed its fist into its shoulder, knocking the sword away. The Mystic ejected from his guymelef and surrendered to the Fanelian soldiers pouring from the woods. The foot soldiers did likewise.
The Escaflowne faced the woods where the rest of Kriggen's forces hid. It raised its visor to reveal the face of Van Fanel. The king's eyes were cold and hard, like diamonds. They glared into the forest and seemed to pierce Kriggen right through the soul. Kriggen's heart clenched. He was afraid this would happen! The Dragon had his sword! And he was going to kill them all!
Kriggen had fought at Freid. An unknown mercenary, he had managed to survive when so many of his fellows had been killed. He had seen Fanel fight, and he had seen the Dragonslayers, the best fighters in Zaibach, hang back in fear at his wrath. Yes, Kriggen had seen the Dragon roar before. And he was not eager to see him do so again.
"Violators of Escaflowne's shrine! I command you to stand down. Drop your weapons and surrender, and I promise that you will not be harmed." Van's voice echoed through the clearing, inspiring fear and awe in his enemies. Kriggen was more than willing to obey, but.
"Ignore him Kriggen."
Kriggen twisted in his seat. "Kasar? What the hell?"
The flat, dead voice continued to speak. "General Veers has ordered that this mission succeed. And to do that, I must pull you out of this mess you've entombed yourself in."
"Don't talk to me like that, you-"
"Shut up! You have already angered me by deviating from the plan! Don't try me again. Or I swear it will take an eternity for you to die!"
Kriggen was taken aback and did not answer. Kasar continued.
"In a short time, my forces will attack the king. When we do, you will attack too. I will handle the soldiers. But you are going to capture the Escaflowne tonight. I don't care how you do it, but get me that guymelef!"
The voice stopped talking. Kriggen assumed Kasar was finished.
The mercenary general watched Van, wariness and caution keeping him back. But Kasar's threat urged him on. Kriggen didn't know what kind of power that man had, but he was better off fighting Van.
He activated his com link again. "Teams two and three, attack on my command".
"Yes sir."
Kriggen felt a surge of eagerness, and he realised that he actually wanted to fight Van Fanel. To fight the best. To be the best. That is the dream of every fighter. And Kriggen was no exception. Smiling grimly, he fingered the controls to Akagi and walked out into the open. Right into the path of Van Fanel.
***
All eyes in the clearing fixed onto the titanium-blue guymelef that stepped from the forest.
"Van Fanel". A raspy, growly, voice came from the guymelef.
Van was unphased. "Lay down your weapons and be taken prisoner".
"Why should I?"
"If you do so, then you will live. If not, you will die."
"It's not so easy as that, you Majesty. First you would have to kill us. And that may not be as easy as it seems. However, there's always an alternative. And this situation has one that could prevent bloodshed."
"And that is?"
"Give us the Escaflowne, and we will leave in peace. Refuse and we will kill you."
"I don't think I can follow those terms."
"I didn't think so."
With those four words, scores of black clothed men jumped from the forest. They made no sound. They simply charged the Fanelian force, swords drawn in a lethal manner. The mercenaries followed their leader as he charged straight toward the Escaflowne, and many armoured soldiers burst from the wood and joined the fight.
Battle was joined.
***
Experience had taught Yukari to expect a fight. It wasn't any special powers; it was plain common sense. Men bold enough to try and steal the most powerful guymelef ever built were obviously not going to let anybody stop them. So, as always, she dressed for the occasion.
Yukari's splint mail was modified to suit her and her alone. No one else could comfortably wear it, as it was designed for her form. A thick, lightweight breastplate covered her front, accenting her figure in the process. Steel chain mail ran down her arms and legs. Jewelled bracers adorned her forearms, plates protected her calves and thighs, and a steel 'skirt' came down from her waist (A/N: Sort of like the Saiyan armour from Dragonball Z.). She wore no helmet, preferring to keep her head free, and her earrings were visible, even in this hideous light.
Looking over at her brother, Yukari sighed. "You are aware that there's going to be a fight, right?"
Setto smiled cheerfully. As usual, he was clad in his many pocketed jacket, and derelict jeans. "Yeah, I know."
"And you are aware that in fights people generally try to kill you, right?"
Setto shook his head. "I know where you're going. I can never fight in armour. It's too restrictive. My manoeuvrability is my best weapon, not my bombs."
"I just don't understand you, brother. I really don't."
Any other conversation was forestalled, because Kriggen stepped from the forest. The twins shut up to hear the brief verbal battle. Yukari's grip tightened on her katana. The words ended, and troops burst from the forest like ants whose nest has been disturbed.
Yukari drew her sword, the blade glinting dully in the torchlight. Then she cried out a challenge and charged.
Battle was joined on both sides. The Fanelians faced a strange combination of Mystic foot soldiers, the Basramian elite guard (aka: the Silver Serpents), and the all too familiar black clothed sand assassins.
One of these assassins targeted Yukari. Springing forward with inhuman speed, it slashed downward brutally. Yukari blocked and then kicked out, catching it on the hip. When it stumbled back, she decapitated it with one stroke. The clothes fell apart, sand spilling onto the ground.
Pulling back, she slammed the hilt of her sword into the gut of a Serpent. His heavy armour absorbed the blow and he locked swords with Yukari, who could barely see the man's face through his hideous helmet. Twisting her sword, she broke free and kicked him in the jaw. Her armoured boot struck the helmet with a dull clang, and the man shook his head dazedly. Yukari ran him through quickly and looked for another target.
Suddenly, another explosion went off. Setto's defenses seemed to be working. Grinning, Yukari reflected on how her brother occasionally could do something right.
Half a dozen men rushed her from the front, only to be thrown away by one of Yukari's force blows. That did not deter others, however, and soon she was wading through a sea of hostile faces and armoured bodies. A wide smile cracked her face, and soon the laughter that had made her father, and then her mother famous echoed through the clearing.
***
Setto watched the battle from the top of his rock. His short bow was out and he was waiting for a target. There! He released an arrow and a sand assassin blew up in a fountain of fire and sand. Another arrow was released, and another target went up. Then another. And another.
By this time, however, the enemy had noticed his existence. A trio of assassins leaped to the top of his vantage point, and Setto was forced to abandon his ideal sniper position. Grabbing up his quiver of arrows, he flashed a grin at them and slid down the rock.
He was attacked upon landing. Two Silver Serpents were advancing, swords drawn. Looking back, Setto saw the ninja-men drop to the ground behind him. "Oh dear" he said.
Reaching into one of his pockets, Setto pulled out a tiny black ball. He threw it onto the ground just as the five whom wanted his blood lunged for him. A black cloud of smoke engulfed the group, and amidst the flailing of fists and weapons, Setto managed to escape. Brushing off his shirt, he looked back at the cloud and was surprised to see the five still flailing away. Shaking his head, he ran off into the battle.
***
Yukari finished off her last opponent with an upward thrust. The rest, not too keen on facing the young wildwoman, ran. Looking about for another target, she caught sight of something that made her grin maliciously.
Kasar was strolling through the battle as if it were a sunny field. He watched the carnage as if it was an interesting sight at a museum. He casually stepped over the bodies of men as if they were stones in his path. Suddenly, his gaze turned to Yukari, and his black eyes seemed to smile.
Yukari strode forward, her sword in her fist. Casually, she beheaded an attacker, not even breaking her stride. When she was ten feet away, she stopped.
"Good evening Mr. Kasar". Yukari's voice was cheerful, though her smile said otherwise. "A pleasant night for a stroll, eh?"
Kasar nodded his head to her. "A good evening it is young lady. It would seem that the local fauna is active tonight." He watched a pair of soldiers fight for a moment before turning back to Yukari. "So, what brings you here?"
Yukari simply shrugged. "Oh the usual. You know how it is." She eyed Kasar shrewdly. "But I think you have some purpose here, am I right?"
Kasar smiled slightly. "Quite right. My lord, General Veers, has entrusted me to bring him the Escaflowne battle machine. With that weapon of prophecy in his grasp, no one will be able to stop him." Turning, he watched Kriggen and Van hammer away at each other. "Kriggen is doing quite well, actually. He just might win and save me a great deal of trouble."
Yukari lifted her upper lip. "You're the one who's in trouble!" she snarled. "I don't know how, but you're responsible for all of this!"
Kasar chuckled slightly. "Now that's not true. Yes, I planned all the assassin attacks. And yes, this battle is mostly my doing. But the real mastermind is General Veers. It's his ambition that drives his armies of conquest and his genius that ensnares the fools of the neighbouring kingdoms. He is the one you should fear, not I. For he will rule the world someday."
"Well, then I'll just have to deal with him once I'm done with you!" Channelling her will, Yukari thrust out her palm. The air rippled as the mass of pure force blasted toward the smirking Kasar. The blast hit with a sharp crack.
And did absolutely nothing.
Yukari's eyes widened. "That's impossible!"
Kasar shook his head in disappointment. "I'm surprised at you, my dear. If a warrior like you can throw pathetic little pot shots at me, then what do you think a master sorcerer can do?" His mouth widened in an evil grin. His gloved hands formed intricate symbols in the air and he chanted strange and eerie words.
Instinctively, Yukari threw herself to the left. A giant bolt of lightning spat from the sky striking the ground an instant where she had been. Rolling, she got up and faced the chanting voice of the enemy. Dodging a fireball, she ducked and rolled, crashing into the legs of the sorcerer. Pinning his arms to the ground, she smirked triumphantly.
The smirk faded when his eyes brightened to star-white globes. Yukari twisted and the beams of white hot light missed her by a fraction of an inch, passing so close that it sizzled her armour.
Getting up, Yukari's sword was drawn and ready. She waited for the next magical attack.
Slowly staggering to his feet, Kasar made a gold and silver staff appear from mid air. Clutching his weapon, he smiled grimly. "This is going to give me a considerable amount pleasure!"
"What's the matter with you?" Yukari taunted the vengeful sorcerer. "Didn't your mother teach you not to pick on girls?"
"Yes she did. But I never really listened." Kasar pointed his staff at Yukari. Sensing danger, she ducked, and a tree she was standing in front of was engulfed in a jet of searing hot flame.
Rolling over, Yukari stood up, just as Kasar launched another spell. She braced herself for the pain that must surely come. The spell connected with a flash of green light. But when the light cleared, Yukari felt nothing but a strange tingling all over her entire body.
Kasar's face exhibited pure triumph, and he stalked closer as if he feared nothing. Yukari tried to attack him, but the tingling sensation only grew stronger. Panicked, she struggled harder, but the tingling grew so strong it was painful! She couldn't move!
Kasar leered right into the face of his intended victim. "You didn't really think you could take on me and win? The arrogance of youth these days". He shook his head. "I'd like time to torture you properly for being such an interfering wretch, but I'm afraid I haven't the time. I must bring the Escaflowne to my lord." He levelled his staff at Yukari's face. Purple energy began to glow at its head. "Goodbye my dear".
A trail of steely light slashed through the night. It struck Kasar's staff, knocking it free. Without the magic being focused through it, the purple glow died. Kasar had other problems, however. He hissed as a dagger stuck into his right arm. Clutching his arm, he fell back, nearly tripping on his crippled leg.
Mark stood between the mage and his prey. "You'll have to go through me sorcerer!"
Kasar hissed again, this time in pure fury. But then he frowned as a new sound struck the clearing.
A floating fortress of Zaibach design had decloaked above the battlefield zone. A stream of guymelefs were launching from it's hangar bay. The unexpected reinforcements landed with resounding THWUMPs, and they immediately cut into the nearest of Kasar's forces. The Fanelians, exhausted from the fighting, cheered, and fought with renewed vigour.
Kasar saw the situation and realised that it was hopeless. Reaching out an arm, his staff leaped into his hand. Glaring maliciously at the two teenagers he smiled evilly. "I will see you another time. Perhaps sooner than you think! Oh yes. I'll be sure to tell you mother of what happened here!" Whirling, he shouted a word. A black hole opened in the air and he lunged through it. The portal hung for a minute but faded shortly.
Mark turned and held up Yukari. Without the power of Kasar's spell holding her, she felt exhausted. "Are you alright?"
She nodded wearily. "Yeah. I'm just tired like hell."
Mark sat down on the bloody ground, holding Yukari to his chest. Wearily, she hugged him gratefully. Safe in each other's arms, they watched the rest of the battle wind down.
***
Akagi and Escaflowne were the last remaining combatants on the field. All the others had been killed or captured by the Dragonslayers. It seemed that Setto had called them in the day before. Now, they joined the Fanelian soldiers in cheering on Van as he fought desperately against a skilled opponent who knew he had nothing to lose.
Kriggen hurled his main weapon, a chakrum on a chain, at Van. Sparks flashed as the dervish struck Escaflowne's sword and bounced off. Closing the distance between the two 'melefs, Van charged. Kriggen met him with a scimitar and for a second the blades crossed.
Akagi's motors strained under the fierce pressure of Escaflowne's sword, and Kriggen punched furiously at the controls. The tyrant fought fiercely and with great skill. He deflected many of Van's blows, but he could not stop them all. Once, Van's sword grazed his energist case, nearly overloading the jewel. That was the moment Kriggen realised that he could not win, that he would be killed. The knowledge did not bother him. It merely made him change tactics.
While his sword arm held off Van's weapon, Kriggen brought his other arm to bear, he hurled the chakrum in a wide circle. Whirling around, the bladed disk missed both guymelefs, but it's chain wrapped around them both. Their swords were trapped against each other, and neither war machine could move.
"Kriggen you coward!" Van howled in rage. "Are you afraid to fight me?"
The maniac laughed. "Coward? Me? I'll give you coward!" He grabbed a switch and yanked it down. Akagi's energist immediately began to flash. Dully at first, the light grew brighter as the power flow was disrupted. Van watched in horror as steam started blasting from any opening that it could find.
"You're insane! You're overloading your own guymelef! Stop this now, before it blows!"
"You'd like me to do that, wouldn't you". Kriggen leered evilly as his systems continued their inexorable process. "I may die, but I'm taking you and a lot of people with me!" He started to laugh. Oh, revenge was so sweet! It was a shame he wouldn't be able to see Hitomi's face when she found out that her dear friend had been killed, but you couldn't make an omelette without breaking some eggs.
Van struggled desperately to break free of the chain that bound him to this madman. It was no use. Kriggen really was going to go through with this! In desperation, Van hit a switch of his own. The joints on Escaflowne twisted and snapped together, forming a new shape. Wings stretched out, a tail came forth, and a head burst forth, roaring defiance at all things earthly. Catching the chain in its mighty claws, Escaflowne heaved and it shattered. The dragon flew into the sky as the men and women on the ground scattered from impending destruction.
Akagi was shaking from the forces built up inside of its infrastructure. It seemed to sag for a moment. Then, with an earth shattering blast, it exploded. The flash made the night day for an instant. Then it died down, metal pieces raining from the sky.
The Battle of the Shrine was over.
***
The fighters of the battle were celebrating. Fanelian guardsmen sat side by side with the Dragonslayers, each of them talking loudly about their exploits. A small group of men had started a game of cards. Chesta was winning, as usual.
Van was seated at the head of his table, allowing the men to savour their victory. He knew it wouldn't last.
He was right. A man dashed through the door, stopping at the end of the table. "Your Majesty!" he huffed, "I have urgent news concerning the royal seer!"
Instant silence. Yukari's heart clenched as she remembered what Kasar had said.
"Well, then read it." Van felt a similar clench of fear as the man unrolled his scroll.
"Your Majesty, it seems that a battle took place a few kilometres west of Palas. Scouts reported flashes of fire in the night, and when they went to investigate the next morning, they found signs of a battle. Six guymelefs of Basramian design were found, totally destroyed. Alongside them were two badly damaged Alseides units. One of them was blood red, the other was green and black. They were identified as belonging to Dilandau and Hitomi Albatou. Neither body was recovered." The man finished.
Into the silence, Yukari stood up. A tear slowly running down her face, she opened her mouth and, filled with the anguish and hate of a dragon whose mate has been killed, screamed.
