A/N

Thank you to the following for your reviews:

Chibihitomi- Yep, they are celebrating the complete control of Allen and the fact they can now do whatever they want with him. Yeah Dilandau is sweet, but unfortunately he's off saving Gaea so he'll have to participate in Allen bashing another way…Thanx again for reviewing, I enjoy reading your comments

Chisakami Saiyuki-I'm glad you enjoyed the story

Macky- Thank you for reviewing, hope you enjoy this chapter too Alantie Mistaniu- Yeah, I do feel as though I've been neglecting the other characters, so to make up for it this chapter has more V/H fluffiness

Cafe- No worries, you will get your romance.

Lucky-DicE1012- Lot's more V/H AND more Allen bashing! Hm, that can't be a bad thing…except for Allen.

Chapter Fourteen

Those Left Behind Do Get to Have Fun

Kio wandered what had happened to the world when Gaddes had ordered him to get the girls. His faced creased into worry when nobody answered Millerna's door. Tentatively, as though he felt he was being rude, Kio pushed open the door. And stood five minutes long after doing so at the sight in front of him.

He had never been in Millerna's room before. It was very…pink. But that did not deter him at all. It was the fact that currently, Millerna was hosting a tea party with Eries, Merle, Chid and Boris. No, that was not it.

Kio was in shock at seeing Allen dressed up in a butler jacket, holding out a plate of biscuits to Millerna. His face was still white, and the bright red lipstick was still there. Merle and Millerna had gotten their wish, and had given him a full-blown makeover. Blue eye shadow and black eyeliner made his eyes look even more gormless. Someone had scribbled little hearts and daisies on his forehead. In his daze, Gaddes only just registered Merle remarking how Emperor Donkirk had sent her a packet of permanent markers.

Eries put the finishing touches to Allen with bright red rogue on his cheeks, and her precious frilly, luminous yellow ribbons held his pink hair into two bunches. Millerna had adorned Allen with one of her frilly aprons. His skintight trousers had thankfully gone, but something had been needed to cover up his underwear.

Kio shook his head in wonderment. Adorning Allen's hairdo sat a rather fluffy pair of white rabbit ears. It wasn't even that which surprised him though. Eries had concluded that, since Allen shaved his legs, there was no point hiding them. Thus his legs were bare, and he tottered to their commands on a pair of scarlet stiletto heels.

Two hour later and Van was bright red from having to spend the whole journey with Celena. Subtle torture was her forte, and she only delighted in teasing him about Hitomi. However, he found that he only had to speak the name "Dilandau," and she would blush furiously.

"So what's the game plan now?" Van asked, once the two of them had matured slightly.

"Well, you need to go to the Plains of Asgard, and seek an entrance to Atlantis," Celena said thoughtfully. "Me and Dilandau are here to back you up. Morgana won't get to you again."

"How did you know about Morgana in the first place?" Van wanted to know.

"Donkirk connections," the girl replied simply. "He's not as useless as Folken thinks."

Van's face darkened. "Folken…"

Celena noticed immediately, and grimaced at her own stupidity. "Sorry, I forgot he was your brother."

"He's not!" Van said sharply, but Celena did not flinch. "At least, he's not anymore. He's a traitor."

Celena chuckled. "You and Dilandau should hang out sometime. Your hatred for the guy is about equal."

"Hmph," was all Van could manage. Celena hid a tiny grin.

"So how do you and Dilandau plan for us to go up against a whole city of soldiers?" Van enquired.

"Well, first we infiltrate as spies," Celena explained. "Most importantly, Morgana needs to be taken care of. Miguel should be snooping for all the dirt on her."

"Funny," Van commented. "It was my brother who told me about her in the first place. I should've listened to Hitomi…"

"What did you go to her for anyway?" Celena enquired.

"A map showing the layout for the Plains of Asgard," Van replied, handing the map over to her.

Celena steered with one hand, eyeing the map closely. She closed her eyes, and in her mind she could feel a faint aura coming from it. She hissed, and Van looked at her in surprise. Celena reached for a shiny, silver object, and pressing down a button, conjured a small flame. Then she proceeded to burn the map.

"Hey!" Van cried in alarm. "What are you doing?" he tried to grab the map but Celena kicked him back.

"No wonder she was able to penetrate your mind," Celena snarled. "The map is spelled."

Van stopped struggling at once. "Huh? Spelled?"

"With a tracking spell," Celena explained. She was analysing your movement, and chose to strike whenever you appeared to stop and rest- when your defences were at their lowest."

"Oh." Van sat sprawled in his seat, unsure what to say. "What are we going to do now? We need to find away to get across the Plains."

Celena pondered this for a moment. "Your right. No worries, I think I have a solution."

She talked into the wristwatch that had been given to all the Dragonslayers. "Dilandau, this is Celena. We need to make a stop by Dryden's place. I'll inform Gaddes to bring the Crusade."

The banquet was on, and everyone was having the time of his or her life. Duke Freid had been given priority over Allen, and took pleasure in ordering him to do everything. Currently he was kneeling on the floor with a dangerously full goblet of wine teetering on his head.

Eries looked around impatiently, not enjoying things as fully as she should be. "Do you know where Gaddes is?" she asked Kio.

"I think he's taking a message from Celena."

Her face visibly relaxed. "About Allen?" she enquired more cheerfully.

Kio avoided her eyes. "Actually no. I think it's actually something important this time."

Eries opened her mouth, worried again, but before she could say anything, the doors of the hall swung open, and Gaddes walked in, a coy smile on his face, heads turned, and greetings were called out to him, which he returned with full heart.

He caught sight of Eries, and strode purposefully towards her. Bending down, he brushed his lips over her hand.

"Why the worried face princess?" he said with a wink."

"What was it Celena wanted to talk to you about?" Eries questioned.

His grin widened, and his eyes sparkled with something she had not seen in a while. Excitement? Adventure? Daring?

"It looks like we're back in the game," Gaddes replied, helping himself to some food.

"What do you mean?" Eries asked, trying not to show her anxiety.

Gaddes swallowed a grape. "It means I'm going on a real mission. Celena has requested I bring the Crusade at meet at the rendezvous place, i.e. Dryden's merchant ship. From there we are to travel to Atlantis."

"What?" Eries whispered loudly. "But that's dangerous! You could get hurt."

"But they need us there," Gaddes explained, lowering his voice. "Morgana has been tracking Van. No doubt she was waiting for them to lead her to Atlantis."

Eries looked downcast. Gaddes noticed, and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

"I'm coming with you!" a new voice interrupted. Gaddes and Eries started, and turned to see Merle standing beside them, hands on hips.

"Merle…" Eries began, but she interrupted.

"I want to see Lord Van," Merle explained. "And make sure that Hitomi is taking great care of him."

"I'm coming to!"

"Millerna!" Eries exclaimed, looking scandalised, but Millerna shushed her.

"Sister, I know you don't approve, but by the sound of it, they are going to need someone capable of healing wounds, and that someone is me."

"You're right," Eries replied. "I just wish there was something I could do."

Gaddes looked troubled, and leaned towards her. "Use your position Eries. You are a princess; you have a great authority over the people. Besides, there's something else. Donkirk leaked to me that Zaibach is targeting Freid. It could come under attack any time. Trust me, Freid will need all the help it can get."

"But I can't do that on my own!" Eries replied.

"You won't be," Gaddes replied. "You'll have the Duke, Prince Chid, Boris, not to mention Plactu. I even sent for Dallet, Viole and Gatti to keep you company. And don't forget, you have complete control over Allen. If worse comes to worse, you can use him."

Eries laughed, forgetting her troubles. "You're right. There's nothing for me to worry about.

"That's the spirit," Gaddes cheered.

The companions sat together, enjoying the feast, not letting the impending darkness get to them.

Miguel waited until the scientists were gone and out of hearing range before venturing out of his hiding place. He shut the door gently, and glanced around this strange lab. Vials of red liquid were placed neatly in test tube racks. Some bubbled, even thought the air was cold.

He shuddered, ignoring these strange things. He walked past a strange suspension column, in which the body of a human baby was suspended in animation. Its eyes stared eerily off into space, as if the poor soul had gone away long ago.

Books lay scattered over a desk, and pieces of parchment were tied up into rolls, stacked neatly in a pile. It was obvious that this was where Miguel would find his information.

Eyria opened her eyes groggily, wincing as white light blinded her. Was she dead? Where was she?

"Is she alright then?" a familiar male voice asked.

She knew that voice. She knew it. Who was…Chesta? What was he doing here? She closed her eyes, and the memories came flooding back to her. Morgana! But Naria, where was Naria? Her eyes snapped open immediately, and she tried to get up.

Guimel restrained her, pushing her back down gently. "Shh, it's okay. Naria's resting. Her injuries aren't that substantial."

Eyria stared at the brunette seemingly floating above her. "Where are we?" she asked.

"On the ship of the merchant Dryden. He is a friend of ours."

"How long has it been since…" her throat became dry and she found she could not speak."

"Five days," Guimel replied. "Most of your wounds are nearly healed. You are incredibly lucky, you know."

"Huh," Eyria snorted. "Because being chained to a cliff top is so lucky."

Guimel cracked a small smile, and then he quickly frowned again. "Can you tell us what happened? What did Morgana do to you?"

Eyria frowned. "She said that Folken had ordered us to meet with some scouts and bring them back to Zaibach's floating fortress. However, when we reached the destination required, the scouts we met started to attack us when our backs were turned. We were outnumbered tent o two."

The Dragonslayer pondered this thoughtfully. Normally Eyria and Naria could on five enemies each at one time with no problem.

As if sensing his thoughts, Eyria said aloud, "They were not Zaibach scouts. I sense they were Morgana's people."

"Mages?" Guimel asked, and she nodded in confirmation.

He looked over at Chesta, and they both pondered this information in silence. It seemed as though things had just gotten more complicated.

Dilandau was teaching Hitomi to drive. Well, actually steer. Or whatever the term for using a guymelef was.

She, he had explained, was going undercover as a Zaibach soldier.

She, after he told her this, said it would be mighty suspicious if four Zaibach soldiers were travelling in two guymelefs across a big, deserted stretch of land.

Then he, after listening to this rather good point, butted in and said that no actually, Zaibach sent out scouts all the time to try and find new information, and that newbies were being recruited all the time so four more wouldn't cause any suspicion at all.

Plus, he said he was too handsome for anyone to suspect him. Hitomi said he was more demonic and twisted.

He thanked her cordially for the kind compliment.

She rolled her eyes and asked to be switched so she could fly with Van.

Dilandau and Celena both refused to give up their precious toys. So Van had to content himself with listening to Hitomi over the intercom. However, it was hard to start a conversation with each other with Celena snickering at every word Van said, making kissing noises every ten seconds. Dilandau just smirked at Van's awkwardness. Finally Hitomi got bored and took things into her own hands.

"Hello Van."

Van jumped and fell out of his seat, almost. Celena looked at him funny and scolded him about how seatbelts were invented for a reason.

The Prince of Fanelia nodded numbly and sat back in his seat, his eyes darting from side to side suspiciously.

"Don't worry Van, it's not Morgana. It's me, Hitomi."

"Oh," Van said in realisation.

Celena looked at him funny.

"Did you say something?"

"Urm, no," Van said quickly. A little too quickly. But Celena decided to let it slide this time.

"I mean, oh. It's you." Van said in his mind.

"What, you didn't want to talk to me?" Hitomi said, well, think said, sounding put out and slightly annoyed.

"I do, it's just I was surprised!" He insisted

"Oh okay."

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Van asked.

" I don't know. What do you want to talk about?" Hitomi asked.

Van stared in disbelief.

"What?" Celena asked suspiciously.

"Pardon?" Van asked, feigning innocence.

"Oh, nothing?" Celena said with a shrug, turning away, shaking her head and muttering something inaudible under her breath.

"So you come into my mind and you have nothing to say? Why did you even bother in the first place? You should save your strength."

"Yeah, but I wanted to talk to you," Hitomi explained. "I like talking to you."

That was enough to pacify Van. He started talking to her in his mind, and his face adopted a distant, gormless expression, like he was dead.

Celena became freaked out, and leaned forward into the intercom.

"Dilandau, Van is acting weird. And they're talking anymore. Notice the lack of gossip?" Celena whined.

Dilandau glanced at Hitomi, who was intently watching him steer. Occasionally she would address him, saying things to him. However, she was not acting strangely at all. The diabolical Adonis grinned, realising what was going on. Hitomi and Van were having a telepathic conversation. Hitomi was used to multitasking and could therefore have a conversation whilst acting normally. However it seemed that Van was rather unused to doing this, so therefore could only concentrate on one thing at a time.

He leaned forward and replied to Celena, "Don't worry Celena, it's alright. This is normal behaviour for Van."

Celena looked at Van's gormless face, shuddering slightly. "Yeah fine, but when we next stop, you can have him!"

Eries watched as the Crusade took off, carrying the crew, Millerna and Merle on board. Prince Chid and the Duke stood by her side.

"So Auntie, what shall we do now with Allen?" Prince Chid asked, once the Crusade was out of sight.

"Well, it seems as though we have to protect Freid from the clutches of Zaibach," Duke Freid began.

"Yes, that would be a priority." Eries looked down into the courtyard, where Boris was using Allen as a training dummy. Currently he was practising archery, with Allen as the target. Several apples were tied to different parts of Allen's body, with arrows sticking out. Boris always said that there was nothing better than a human to practice techniques on.

"It would seem as though Allen may come in useful after all," Eries murmured. "Tell me Duke, is there anything of use your scientists have that need testing out?"

Duke Fried thought for a moment. "Why, come to think of it, yes. They are developing several potions that do not kill people, but cause them strange symptoms such as breathing fire and such and such."

A pleased smile formed on her lips. "Excellent."

Hope you enjoyed that chapter. Next chapter will continue with Allen bashing. If you have any ideas, feel free to contribute!