Here's yet another chappie. Wow, I'm really cranking these things out!
Anyway's Enjoy...If you do, review me k.
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Van stood outside the large temple that housed Escaflowne. He couldn't remember the last time he had been there, looked upon the dragon melef he was connected to. Now that Gaea was at peace there wasn't a need to use Escaflowne and Van was so busy attending to matters of state that he had no time to go for a joy ride.
Today was different though. With the tournament coming up in a few hours, Van needed to clear his head. It was time to wake up the silver dragon.
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Wild red eyes surveyed the horizon looking for any sign of Escaflowne...of Van. Lord Velannaf had assured Dilandau that he would be coming but the boy was growing impatient. He didn't know how long he had been standing on the edge of the cliff face but it was too long for his liking. His fingers itched with the desire to try out his new toy.
~~~Flashback~~~
Dilandau stared with disgust at Scherazade. How was he supposed to use this piece of junk against Escaflowne? Not only did Allen's melef have limited weaponry, but it was also incapable of transforming or flying. Dilandau didn't stand a chance against the dragon.
Scherazade was nothing more than scrap metal without Allen in the pilot seat. Dilandau couldn't handle such menial armaments; he needed power and higher tech weapons. The Zaibach Empire had obviously spoiled the albino by giving him Oreades.
"What's wrong Albatou? You don't seem happy."
Dilandau didn't bother to turn around. He knew Lord Velannaf was behind him.
"Why would I be happy with this?" He motioned towards the guymelef. "What am I supposed to do with this, this trash?" He scowled as the words left his lips.
"Calm down boy. I realize Scherazade is very basic but I have seen to that."
"How?" Dilandau inquired testily.
"I have many friends in high, or rather...low places."
"And?" The boy pursued, getting more annoyed by the second with all the beating around the bush.
Velannaf glared at Dilandau. The silver haired youth was most irksome.
"And...I was able to get my hands on Zaibach technology. Scherazade is now almost as powerful as an Alseides guymelef. Because of time constraints it is still unable to fly, but it has all the same weaponry."
Dilandau's eyes flashed wicked excitement as he erupted in a fit of laughter. Van was doomed.
~~~End of Flashback~~~
Time crawled by and still there was no sign of the dragon. Velannaf must have lied. Van wasn't coming and Dilandau was wasting his time like and idiot.
The boy was about to leave his perch when something reflected the sun's rays off in the distance. The object was coming upon him fast.
"Van." A twisted smile formed on the dragon slayer's lips.
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Van closed his eyes and lifted his chin, letting the cool force of the wind rush through his raven hair. The young king had been a little apprehensive about taking out Escaflowne, but his worry had quickly passed as he took to the air. He was thoroughly enjoying himself and it made him realize how much he had missed flying. He felt so free in the sky.
Van sensed a chill touch across his taut stomach. The wind had blown his shirt open revealing his lean musculature, but he did not care. Nor did he care how his pants clung so tightly to his legs that they left nothing for the imagination. He did not care that his hair was disheveled. He did not care about anything. He was free and that was all that mattered. For once he did not have to think about his duties as king or the upcoming tournament.
Suddenly Escaflowne was struck from behind, causing Van to lurch forward. He regained his footing and scanned the ground below for his aggressor. He found nothing. Deciding that he had merely flown into an exceptionally strong air current, the young king relaxed; letting his guard down.
The silver dragon pitched forward once more, with greater force. This was no air current. Van was under attack and he was a sitting duck in the sky. He had to land or it would all be over for him.
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Dilandau grinned manically as he watched Escaflowne dive towards the ground. He had managed to make Van land by using his crima claw only twice. Scherazade was proving to be quite useful after all.
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Escaflowne swooped, transforming immediately into its fighting stance as it reached the rocky surface of a cliff. Van pulled out his sword, ready for an attack but he couldn't see anything that would pose any sort of threat to him.
He couldn't see anything, but that did not mean something was not there. Van learned three years ago, when he faced Zaibach, that looks could be deceiving so he did not trust his eyes now. Something was out there. He could feel it.
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Fiery eyes stared amusedly at the silver melef desperately looking for its invisible enemy. 'He doesn't know where I am,' thought Dilandau. 'Poor, poor, sexy Van.'
The ashen haired boy was startled by his subconscious. Since when did he think Van was sexy? Dilandau admitted that he had been stirred at the sight of the young king's semi-clad frame, but he would not go as far as to say that Van was sexy. Still...the boy had gotten very hot over the last few years.
Van's hair had stayed the same but that was pretty much all that had remained of Dilandau's enemy. The king of Fanelia was not buff but his muscles were well defined across his trim body and he had grown in stature. He was now taller than Dilandau, being at least 5'10''.
Dilandau pictured the boy in his mind. Van was definitely beautiful; maybe too beautiful. Perhaps his looks rivaled his very own. It was another reason for Dilandau to hate the boy. He must do away with the competition.
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The invisible enemy attacked with great speed, sending a liquid metal crima claw straight at Van. He had been ready and blocked the assault with ease. The enemy retreated and made another attempt to strike down Escaflowne but it ended in the same manner.
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Dilandau howled in frustration as his attacks missed their mark again and again. Van was guarding himself against something he couldn't see, but how? It reminded Dilandau of that bitch (1), Hitomi, from the mystic moon. She had managed to locate his dragon slayers despite them being concealed by stealth cloaks. Zaibach had fallen because of her meddling; but Hitomi wasn't here now so how was Van able to see his attacks?
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Although Van couldn't see his enemy, he knew exactly where he was. Hitomi had taught him how to do so by picturing her pendant, as well as what he was searching for in his mind; the pendant would swing in the direction of the desired object. Van now thanked the Gods he had more or less mastered the technique, otherwise he'd have been dead long ago.
Van knew where his assailant was, but he still didn't know who it was and that bothered him. What also worried him was how the other melef had acquired Zaibach technology. It was outlawed in Gaea, although he knew it still fetched a fair price on the black market. Van didn't think anyone could afford it.
'Who are you?' He questioned to no one but himself.
The young king started as the melef removed its stealth cloak, almost in answer to his silent question. His eyes widened as he recognized Allen Schezar's guymelef.
"Scherazade? No, it-it can't be!"
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(1) Sorry if anyone gets offended by that but I couldn't help myself. Besides, Dilandau's a big boy now, he's allowed to cuss.
Please review! I would really like to know what you guys think thus far.