Chapter Six: Obscure Preparations
Aiko and Dilandau were in the stables together most of the time, when he wasn't training or working on with Lord Folken. "You know, Aiko? When the stealth additions for our guymelefs are complete, our horses will be obsolete. We will slay dragons in guymelefs instead. It is the dawn of a new technological beginning for Zibach."
"And you made it all happen. You designed those guymelefs!"
"I did have help."
"I know." Aiko giggled and continued grooming one of the horses. Dilandau smiled at her. His smile was no longer clumsy and awkward due to nerves. For the first time in his life, he felt completely comfortable with someone. He was always so relaxed around her. And when he wasn't around her, he was thinking about being around her.
"Your friend, Elli, came to see me a few days ago."
"What? Why?"
"To tell me something."
Dilandau frowned and became defensive and insecure again. Aiko hated herself for saying anything. She knew he would react this way. "W. what did she say about me?"
"Nothing. She was talking about me. It is important, but I didn't want to tell you because you might get frightened."
"What is it?" He was very concerned for her.
Aiko sat down and motioned for him to do the same. He sat uneasily at her side. "I am from the Ear. the Mystic Moon. For some reason, Gaea and Fate guided me here, and I am hoping that the reason was you." His eyes flickered lovingly. "But Elli and Folken tell me that the Ear. the Mystic Moon will be unbalanced and try to call me back."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that you shouldn't worry. Nothing could keep me from you now that I have found you, Dilandau. Not even the strength of a planet. I will fight it. You will see."
Pride and adoration shimmered in Dilandau's eyes. "I am happy you told me this would happen. I will be by you, when fight the planet. You can't go back there. You would get hurt again."
'He thinks of my pain before his.' Thinks Aiko with admiration. 'If I left, it would destroy him, but he doesn't think of that possibility now. He is worried about me. I can tell.'
"Don't be worried Dilandau. Everything will be perfect.
* * *
Several Weeks Later.
"Commander Miguel!" Gatti entered Miguel's chambers, announcing his presence.
"Yes, Gatti? What is it?" Miguel noticed the grave concern on Gatti's face.
"I need to find Dilandau immediately. Lord Folken commands it. I have looked everywhere for him. Do you know where he is?"
"Yes. He and some others went to take care of a dragon problem near Asturia. Why?"
"Aiko is ill and she wants to see him. The illness is strange- Lord Folken can do nothing."
"Gatti. At a time like this, how could she want to see him, and not I? He made no attempts at courting her, nothing. How is it that I have failed, and he has won?" He paused for a moment. Gatti glanced around awkwardly, having no idea how to respond. "What does it matter? I know when I am defeated. But I would sure like to know how he did it- won her heart, I mean."
Gatti sighed when he realized he didn't have to give an answer.
"As for that matter, I will personally take the guymelefs out to fetch him and bring him back to her."
"That is wonderful, Sir. I'll tell Aiko."
"No, no. I'll tell her myself before I leave."
"Yes Sir!" Gatti stood at attention and Miguel walked past, and then towards Aiko's sickroom.
He knocked on the door. Folken's voice came from within. "Enter," he commanded.
Aiko was pale and trembling on the bed. Folken informed Miguel she had an awful fever and other maladies. "It is certainly nothing normal." He said softly. Miguel sat next to the bed.
"Aiko." he whispered.
"Mmm?"
"Listen. I sent Dilandau to slay dragons. If only I had known, I would never have sent him away. I am off to fetch him personally immediately. So hold on until then, got it?"
"Mmm hmm." Aiko agreed feebly.
Miguel's concern changed to determination as he left the room, and soon he was off in a Melef, searching the problem area for the scouts.
A few hours later, Dilandau burst into the room. Aiko was alone now, in a state of semi-consciousness.
"Aiko!" he cried. "You should sleep!"
"No." She mumbled. "I can't let my guard down. They will claim me if I sleep."
"Who will?" Dilandau asked quietly, placing a hand on her forehead.
"My planet is calling me." She uttered. Dilandau didn't say anything. "I have been. fighting it, but it is making me sick for some. reason. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. Folken can't. treat me."
"No!" Dilandau shouted in panic. He sprawled across her torso, laying his body protectively on hers, so that she couldn't be lifted away. She remained motionless. "No! You can't go back! You'll only be hurt again! Don't give up, Aiko! Please! If not for yourself, then for me! I don't know what I'd do without you!"
"Dilandau." she lifted her trembling hand onto his head resting on her chest. She caressed it. "I love you. I feel. so weak, right now. I was wrong. I. can't hold back. the will of a planet. Elli was right in doubting me. Maybe. I will die."
"No! No! I won't let you!" Dilandau moaned.
". And there is nothing I can do for her. She suffers." Folken entered with Elli by his side. Her face was covered with concern. Dilandau turned his head over to see them come in.
"Dilandau? I didn't know you were here." Commented Elli.
"Don't let the Mystic Moon call her back!" He pleaded to Folken and Elli.
"Dilandau," Elli crouched down and stared him in the eyes. "There is no way to fight against this. A force stronger than we can imagine is calling for Aiko, and we have no powers to stop it."
"What about love?" Asks Dilandau, refusing to believe he could do nothing for her.
Elli looked to Folken for support. He closed his eyes. Elli frowned even more and continued. "I thought it would be enough. But we aren't dealing with the force I first thought we were. I thought Gaea had summoned her, and that, with the balance of forces being disturbed, the Mystic Moon would call her back to it. Love could overpower the will of the Mystic Moon." Elli paused.
"But?" Asked Dilandau. Elli considered what she was talking herself into.
"Yes. But, Elli?" asked Folken.
"But, Fate plays a part in this. Fate wanted Aiko here on Gaea for some reason unknown to me, and now Fate wants to return her. Because Fate creates all love, it can easily overpower your attempts, and Aiko's, to stand against it."
"There has to be someway!" murmured Dilandau.
"Well there is. But it is going to be hard for the both of you. There are some conditions neither of you will like. We cannot fight against Fate. but we can certainly trick Fate."
Folken's eyes opened and he peered curiously at Elli. "What have you got planned?"
Elli looked at Folken wildly. "It would mean going against everything I have fought for! The Sorcerer's serum! Change Aiko into one of the perfect little soldiers! Fate would never find her in a completely different body! Her mind, her spirit- everything would be changed!"
"But she would no longer be Aiko, and would not love Dilandau. So what is it all for?" Folken reasoned.
"Let them decide what it's for. It is the only alternative I can see, and I have offered it to them."
Of course, neither Dilandau nor Aiko knew what she was talking about. Aiko moaned, trying to take it all in. "I made a promise," she said in a low voice, "to be forever by Dilandau's side. I love him and want nothing more. As long as I am there, he will know. Every time he sees my new form, he will remember how I changed to stay for him. If he is happy, it makes it all worth it. That is what it is all for!"
With tears of resolution in both sets of eyes, Aiko and Dilandau asked Elli to make the arrangements. She agreed and left immediately. Folken walked by her side, keeping her crazed pace. "Was it not you who said, 'In this vulnerable state, Dilandau could possibly remember the experiments, and go over the edge of sanity?'" he asked her.
"Yes, Folken. I believe entirely that her complete absence will break him, but I don't intend on letting him remember any of this."
"What?"
"I know now Dilandau needs to be loved. I'll make sure that happens."
"Then why change Aiko. Why not let her go home, and then coldheartedly delete Dilandau's memories of her?"
"Do I detect a note of sarcasm on the great Folken's voice? I can't let her go home. She is just a child, and she was abused. I can stop the abuse, and I will!"
"I just don't know what to think of you right now."
"Damn those sorcerers. It will be hard convincing them. I have hardly any favourable evidence. Wish me luck!"
"Good luck!" whispered Folken and kissed her forehead.
Elli carried on down the dark corridor alone. Once again, she has decided to oppose Fate.
Fate hates being opposed. The chain of events, so carefully planned, was to be set into motion when that hellish creation, Dilandau, lost his sanity. From there, reactions would occur and finally the result: the ruin of Dornkirk and his evil empire devoted to altering Fate. However, if Elli accomplishes this nasty task she has in mind, everything will be ruined. Fate will have to begin a new plan and series of events to erase the appalling mass of uselessness that Zibach had become. Fate was very, truly unhappy. But Elli would convince the sorcerers of her foul little plan any moment. It was too late to stop her now.
But bad little people who stand in Fate's way are easily removed. She will meet her nasty little end, soon enough. Just like all of these creatures involved with Zibach.
Fate will make sure of that.
Aiko and Dilandau were in the stables together most of the time, when he wasn't training or working on with Lord Folken. "You know, Aiko? When the stealth additions for our guymelefs are complete, our horses will be obsolete. We will slay dragons in guymelefs instead. It is the dawn of a new technological beginning for Zibach."
"And you made it all happen. You designed those guymelefs!"
"I did have help."
"I know." Aiko giggled and continued grooming one of the horses. Dilandau smiled at her. His smile was no longer clumsy and awkward due to nerves. For the first time in his life, he felt completely comfortable with someone. He was always so relaxed around her. And when he wasn't around her, he was thinking about being around her.
"Your friend, Elli, came to see me a few days ago."
"What? Why?"
"To tell me something."
Dilandau frowned and became defensive and insecure again. Aiko hated herself for saying anything. She knew he would react this way. "W. what did she say about me?"
"Nothing. She was talking about me. It is important, but I didn't want to tell you because you might get frightened."
"What is it?" He was very concerned for her.
Aiko sat down and motioned for him to do the same. He sat uneasily at her side. "I am from the Ear. the Mystic Moon. For some reason, Gaea and Fate guided me here, and I am hoping that the reason was you." His eyes flickered lovingly. "But Elli and Folken tell me that the Ear. the Mystic Moon will be unbalanced and try to call me back."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that you shouldn't worry. Nothing could keep me from you now that I have found you, Dilandau. Not even the strength of a planet. I will fight it. You will see."
Pride and adoration shimmered in Dilandau's eyes. "I am happy you told me this would happen. I will be by you, when fight the planet. You can't go back there. You would get hurt again."
'He thinks of my pain before his.' Thinks Aiko with admiration. 'If I left, it would destroy him, but he doesn't think of that possibility now. He is worried about me. I can tell.'
"Don't be worried Dilandau. Everything will be perfect.
* * *
Several Weeks Later.
"Commander Miguel!" Gatti entered Miguel's chambers, announcing his presence.
"Yes, Gatti? What is it?" Miguel noticed the grave concern on Gatti's face.
"I need to find Dilandau immediately. Lord Folken commands it. I have looked everywhere for him. Do you know where he is?"
"Yes. He and some others went to take care of a dragon problem near Asturia. Why?"
"Aiko is ill and she wants to see him. The illness is strange- Lord Folken can do nothing."
"Gatti. At a time like this, how could she want to see him, and not I? He made no attempts at courting her, nothing. How is it that I have failed, and he has won?" He paused for a moment. Gatti glanced around awkwardly, having no idea how to respond. "What does it matter? I know when I am defeated. But I would sure like to know how he did it- won her heart, I mean."
Gatti sighed when he realized he didn't have to give an answer.
"As for that matter, I will personally take the guymelefs out to fetch him and bring him back to her."
"That is wonderful, Sir. I'll tell Aiko."
"No, no. I'll tell her myself before I leave."
"Yes Sir!" Gatti stood at attention and Miguel walked past, and then towards Aiko's sickroom.
He knocked on the door. Folken's voice came from within. "Enter," he commanded.
Aiko was pale and trembling on the bed. Folken informed Miguel she had an awful fever and other maladies. "It is certainly nothing normal." He said softly. Miguel sat next to the bed.
"Aiko." he whispered.
"Mmm?"
"Listen. I sent Dilandau to slay dragons. If only I had known, I would never have sent him away. I am off to fetch him personally immediately. So hold on until then, got it?"
"Mmm hmm." Aiko agreed feebly.
Miguel's concern changed to determination as he left the room, and soon he was off in a Melef, searching the problem area for the scouts.
A few hours later, Dilandau burst into the room. Aiko was alone now, in a state of semi-consciousness.
"Aiko!" he cried. "You should sleep!"
"No." She mumbled. "I can't let my guard down. They will claim me if I sleep."
"Who will?" Dilandau asked quietly, placing a hand on her forehead.
"My planet is calling me." She uttered. Dilandau didn't say anything. "I have been. fighting it, but it is making me sick for some. reason. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. Folken can't. treat me."
"No!" Dilandau shouted in panic. He sprawled across her torso, laying his body protectively on hers, so that she couldn't be lifted away. She remained motionless. "No! You can't go back! You'll only be hurt again! Don't give up, Aiko! Please! If not for yourself, then for me! I don't know what I'd do without you!"
"Dilandau." she lifted her trembling hand onto his head resting on her chest. She caressed it. "I love you. I feel. so weak, right now. I was wrong. I. can't hold back. the will of a planet. Elli was right in doubting me. Maybe. I will die."
"No! No! I won't let you!" Dilandau moaned.
". And there is nothing I can do for her. She suffers." Folken entered with Elli by his side. Her face was covered with concern. Dilandau turned his head over to see them come in.
"Dilandau? I didn't know you were here." Commented Elli.
"Don't let the Mystic Moon call her back!" He pleaded to Folken and Elli.
"Dilandau," Elli crouched down and stared him in the eyes. "There is no way to fight against this. A force stronger than we can imagine is calling for Aiko, and we have no powers to stop it."
"What about love?" Asks Dilandau, refusing to believe he could do nothing for her.
Elli looked to Folken for support. He closed his eyes. Elli frowned even more and continued. "I thought it would be enough. But we aren't dealing with the force I first thought we were. I thought Gaea had summoned her, and that, with the balance of forces being disturbed, the Mystic Moon would call her back to it. Love could overpower the will of the Mystic Moon." Elli paused.
"But?" Asked Dilandau. Elli considered what she was talking herself into.
"Yes. But, Elli?" asked Folken.
"But, Fate plays a part in this. Fate wanted Aiko here on Gaea for some reason unknown to me, and now Fate wants to return her. Because Fate creates all love, it can easily overpower your attempts, and Aiko's, to stand against it."
"There has to be someway!" murmured Dilandau.
"Well there is. But it is going to be hard for the both of you. There are some conditions neither of you will like. We cannot fight against Fate. but we can certainly trick Fate."
Folken's eyes opened and he peered curiously at Elli. "What have you got planned?"
Elli looked at Folken wildly. "It would mean going against everything I have fought for! The Sorcerer's serum! Change Aiko into one of the perfect little soldiers! Fate would never find her in a completely different body! Her mind, her spirit- everything would be changed!"
"But she would no longer be Aiko, and would not love Dilandau. So what is it all for?" Folken reasoned.
"Let them decide what it's for. It is the only alternative I can see, and I have offered it to them."
Of course, neither Dilandau nor Aiko knew what she was talking about. Aiko moaned, trying to take it all in. "I made a promise," she said in a low voice, "to be forever by Dilandau's side. I love him and want nothing more. As long as I am there, he will know. Every time he sees my new form, he will remember how I changed to stay for him. If he is happy, it makes it all worth it. That is what it is all for!"
With tears of resolution in both sets of eyes, Aiko and Dilandau asked Elli to make the arrangements. She agreed and left immediately. Folken walked by her side, keeping her crazed pace. "Was it not you who said, 'In this vulnerable state, Dilandau could possibly remember the experiments, and go over the edge of sanity?'" he asked her.
"Yes, Folken. I believe entirely that her complete absence will break him, but I don't intend on letting him remember any of this."
"What?"
"I know now Dilandau needs to be loved. I'll make sure that happens."
"Then why change Aiko. Why not let her go home, and then coldheartedly delete Dilandau's memories of her?"
"Do I detect a note of sarcasm on the great Folken's voice? I can't let her go home. She is just a child, and she was abused. I can stop the abuse, and I will!"
"I just don't know what to think of you right now."
"Damn those sorcerers. It will be hard convincing them. I have hardly any favourable evidence. Wish me luck!"
"Good luck!" whispered Folken and kissed her forehead.
Elli carried on down the dark corridor alone. Once again, she has decided to oppose Fate.
Fate hates being opposed. The chain of events, so carefully planned, was to be set into motion when that hellish creation, Dilandau, lost his sanity. From there, reactions would occur and finally the result: the ruin of Dornkirk and his evil empire devoted to altering Fate. However, if Elli accomplishes this nasty task she has in mind, everything will be ruined. Fate will have to begin a new plan and series of events to erase the appalling mass of uselessness that Zibach had become. Fate was very, truly unhappy. But Elli would convince the sorcerers of her foul little plan any moment. It was too late to stop her now.
But bad little people who stand in Fate's way are easily removed. She will meet her nasty little end, soon enough. Just like all of these creatures involved with Zibach.
Fate will make sure of that.