There and Back again
SD: Yay! Another chapter Smirks
GA1: Pant pant
SD: uh oh…I think I killed her…
GA1: …..
Disclaimer: We do not own in any way, shape or form Escaflowne. If we did, we'd be out there making another movie.…We do however own our respective plot changes and characters.
Spirit Dancer: Aiko, Shiva
Glass Angel: Ayane, Fira, Merlin, the Providence Children, Caim and any other character that she decides that she needs to put in this story to make it a good one…
All rights reserved.
Special disclaimer: Any songs used during the production of this story are not ours (unless indicated) but are own and have their copyrights to their singers/writers. Also, do to the fact the 'singers' in this story may not fit to the original sing (ie. Miguel singing an Avril Lavigne song) doesn't really matter to the writing of this story. It is the lyrics that are in use.
-Song in use for this chapter: Precious Rose, by Shindao Naomi; Figure 09 by Linkin Park
Singing notes for chapter:
'word' – Figure 09, background music
'word' – Ayane; Precious Rose
'word' – na
'word' –na
Special note from GA1: Please review people; I really do not like the 'hit counter' because it doesn't tell you really if your story has been read but how many times someone has opened it. Writers still want to hear from their readers, so please review. Tell us what you liked or hated...flame us (but only if it is a constructive flame...) but please review. We like to see the reactions of our readers so we know what you like or don't so we can improve our story.
Chpt. 23 Destiny's Defiant
"I can't believe this…" Gatty growled as he pulled on his jacket. This was horrible, the attack on Freid had been moved up, now there was no possible way they could get Miguel tomorrow, they had to do it today. But they couldn't even do that now, with Dilandau-sama taking them all out on a guymelef training session. All of them were going, not just the Dragonslayers but also the second and third wings. So there was no possible way they could pull off sneaking off the Vione. Not that it would work really well, within an hour someone would notice them missing, and right when they got their melefs out of the hanger they would be seen. So no matter what, they would be in trouble. Viole walked besides him, head hung down staring at the ground. Right, and this moron's attitude was starting to get to Gatty. This depressed mood of his was becoming very unbecoming of the slayer. Viole was normally the joker in any bad situation. The hanger was in chaos as the hanger crew prepped all twenty-three guymelefs for launch. Dilandau-sama was in the center of the gathered group of soldiers that made up the wings. Refina was standing up on a platform relaying orders to the group, with their lord standing behind her nodding slowly. This wasn't uncommon really to see the young woman in a position of command. Even though it was against Zaibach regulations, Dilandau-sama did this anyways. Regulations kept him from promoting the girl in to the first wing but he could twist the regulations to allow her some sort of commanding position. The other Dragonslayers were up by their guymelefs, they didn't really need any briefing on what they were doing. Not really, all Dilandau-sama did with them now in days was throw them out of the Vione and shout orders over the com. This was ridiculous! Gatty slammed his fist against the wall as he walked out onto the hanger floor.
"Alright, does everyone understand the objective?" Refina's voice carried over to him, her brown hair tossed about slightly in the breeze that went through the open hanger. Whatever Guimel saw in that girl was beyond him, she wasn't the prettiest girl here. Her nose had been broken a few times in hard training sessions and had healed slightly crooked. The girl also lacked a lot of figure; she was really just sort of plain. The only really interesting thing about the girl was her green eyes.
"Yes ma'am!" Voices called out in unison. Sometimes the lower wings were really annoying, probably because there were so many of them.
"Alright, dismissed!" The group dispensed as they headed to their guymelefs. This was going to be one long day. The wings were probably going to be set against the Dragonslayers again. Gatty really hated this game. Most of the time the Dragonslayers won it, only a few times did the lower wings win. Though, the blond was not in the mood for this. Refina turned and saluted Dilandau before jumping off the platform. He watched her run off to her guymelef before looking over at them.
"Gatty, Viole come here for a moment please…" Viole's head snapped up next to him as the two looked at each other before slowly walking over to the platform. Dilandau jumped down from it as the two approached him.
"Yes, Dilandau-sama?" He didn't look at them right away, as his red-eyes scanned the hanger before turning to them. The look on his face was solemn.
"The two of you have three hours and thirty minutes got that?" Gatty looked at Viole for a second then back at the white haired general in confusion.
"Sir?" Dilandau just crossed his arms as he looked away from them.
"That gives you half an hour to get him…" He turned away from the two of them without another word and walked away. The two of them remained silent staring after the young general.
"Gatty……I just think he gave us permission to ditch…" Dilandau could hear Viole's voice say. The two of them didn't move for a while, actually Dilandau didn't hear the two of them move because he walked quickly away. That was about all he could handle doing at this time, it was all the help he could give his slayers. If something went wrong, he could always say that the two of them went missing during the training and he didn't have the time to look for them. Hopefully that would be enough time for them, thirty minutes was all he could give them. Folken agreed on four hours, so the extra thirty minutes was their leeway. Unconsciously, Dilandau balled his hands into fists as he reached his the steps that lead to his Alseides. Good thing he had Refina do all that, his stomach was starting to make him feel sick. Damn nerves. Something touched his shoulder.
"Don't worry….. It'll be alright I promise..." He turned his head sharply to see the young healer standing behind him. Her short hair was pulled up in a French braid, and she was wearing her uniform again. Well most of it, she had not bothered to put the head part back on. Not that Dilandau minded that much; he liked her strange colored hair. Shaking his head though he looked away from her, shoulders slumped down as he rested one hand of the railing.
"How can you be so sure?" Her arms encircled his as she leaned against him.
"You can defy destiny……" He turned to look at her again, frowning. She was looking down at the ground… face empty of expression. Though the only thing he noticed was that the dark blue pendent around her neck seemed slightly lighter. She turned her head to look at him. Smiling at him for a moment, she kissed him on the cheek before letting go of his arm.
"Defy…destiny?"
"I'll stay with Folken-sama while you're gone ok?" She waved her hand at him, the seriousness gone and his question unanswered as she started away. "His study needs to be dusted... Real badly…"
xXxXxXxXx
Aiko walked around the castle grounds. Stupid Merle…who the hell did she think she was anyway? Here she was trying to help her precious Van-dono out, and the damn cat goes and bites her head off for being scared and not teaching Van the whole entire lesson. Not that he could handle the entire lesson…he could barely find Merle the first couple of times…and when Aiko had added another item, he would keep on finding Merle instead of her boot…and then the damn cat nuisances had accuse her of not teaching him right! Who the hell did she think she was? A princess? Aiko growled as she reached a courtyard with a fountain in the middle. She stopped as she listened to the fountain as it sent water in the air; only to come down again…The corner of her mouth rose in a semi half smile as she sat down on the steps in front of the fountain. She took out her CD player, and turned it on. Placing the headphones around her neck, like a necklace, she turned the volume up to full blast... She smiled as the music began to play loudly. She closed her eyes and listened to the music as the breeze played with the strands of hair that had escaped her braid. As the music played, her mind traveled to its own little world.
Nothing ever stops all these thoughts
And the pain attached to them
Sometimes I wonder why this is happenin'
It's like nothing I could do would distract me when
I think of how I shot myself in the back again
'Cause from the infinite words I could say I
Put all the pain you gave to me on display
But didn't realize
Instead of setting it free I
Took what I hated and made it apart of me
Aiko's eyes snapped open as the images of that night played through her mind. Tears pricked the back of her eyes as she remembered what had happened. Van had told her after he had saved her from the geckoes. The only thing that she had remembered before he told her was the look in Ayane's eyes. The look of fear…as if Ayane thought that she would continue beating her. Aiko pounded her fist against the stone steps until it started bleeding. It still hadn't healed from when she tried to get into Miguel's cell, but she didn't care. She had almost killed Ayane…if Van hadn't come when he did, Ayane might not have survived…
Hearing your name
The memories come back again
I remember when it started happenin'
I'd see you in every thought I had
And then
My thoughts slowly found words attached to them.
And I knew as they escaped away I was
Committing myself to 'em
And every day
I regret saying those things
Cause now I see
That I took what I hated and made it apart of me.
She would have killed Ayane…Her life support…her refuge… The only one who actually cared for her…And she almost killed her! All because she was fucking sleepwalking! Aiko pounded the ground a few more times…opening old wounds, and beginning new ones…She was becoming just like the people she hated…Resorting to violence when ever she was scared or angry…She was becoming exactly like them… Her vision began blurring as the tears tried to fall, but she wouldn't let them…She wouldn't let others see her pain… her weakness …
And now
You've become a part of me
You'll always be right here
You've become a part of me
You'll always be my fear
I can't separate
Myself from what I've done
Giving up a part of me
I've let myself become you
"Aiko!" Aiko closed her eyes. Why now! Why did the fur ball have to show up now? Merle called her name a few more times before she actually found Aiko sitting on the steps.
"There you are! Allen sent me to look for you… He's in bed right now….The wimp…" Aiko rolled her eyes as she shut off her CD player, and stood up. She brushed the dirt that had resided on her knuckles. Merle suddenly gasped.
"What the heck happened?" Aiko looked at her with an expressionless face until she got an idea and a crazed smile made its way across her face.
"I got pissed…." She said as she licked the trails of blood that were making their way down her hand and fingers. She tried not to laugh at the face that Merle was giving her as she walked away. Merle eventually caught up with her, and glared at her.
"I'll never understand you Mystic Mooners…" Aiko's smirk widened a little before turning to her making the cat girl stop and look at her.
"Good…. I don't think we were meant to understand talking animals either…" Aiko started to walk off down the path back into the palace when Merle grabbed her hand. The cat girl, who had been running on all fours earlier, was now standing up searching her pockets for something. "What are you…?"
"Even though you may like the taste of blood, you psycho, it's gross..." She pulled out a roll of bandages that more then likely she took from Princess Millerna's bag. Holding out the cut knuckles, Merle went about wrapping them. "You should be more careful or you'll worry Van. And the last thing I need is him worrying about you again… I can't believe he promised Ayane-chan that…." Aiko's eyes widened.
"What? What did He promise Ayane?" Merle's blue eyes looked up to meet Aiko's jade ones for a moment before going back down to her hand.
"He promised that he'd watch over you while Ayane was gone…" Aiko stared at Merle as if she had grown a third eye. Looking down at the ground, she muttered a quiet "Oh" while Merle finished bandaging her hand. When she finished, Aiko muttered a quiet thank you before heading off towards Allen's room, deep in thought.
xXxXxXx
The hall was dark down here, it always was. That was because down in the ground underneath the rest of the palace. Behind them the torch flickered back and forth, moving their shadows about. Shid stood behind Boris; it was the only way he could be down here for this. As long as he kept quiet, Boris had said he could over look the interrogation of the Zaibach officer. A priest stood not to far away from the bars of the cell, mumbling some sort of incantation. This was probably the fourth time in the young prince's life that he had even met this man. Freid valued this man's abilities for a long time. Though that didn't matter much in Shid's mind, actually Plactu always seemed a little... scary to him. Not that he was even going to tell someone that. The priest stepped away from the bars, allowing Shid the first few he had of the young Zaibach soldier. The boy looked too young to have such a rank. Blue eyes stared ahead at nothing; they were clear and empty of any expression as was his face. He was sitting cross-legged near the bars, arms resting on his knees as if he was meditating.
"The prisoner is ready…" Plactu's husky voice broke Shid away from his thought. Boris stepped forward slightly to address the now hypnotized Dragonslayer.
"Zaibach officer, what is your name and rank?" The man's voice seemed to echo slightly in the eerie halls. The slayer's head lifted slightly to look at him.
"It's Lavariel… Miguel Lavariel, first class tactics officer of the Elite." Shid frowned, not understanding the last part of what the Zaibach sol– Lavariel had said.
"Of the Elite?" Boris turned to look at him as Shid stepped forward.
"Prince Shid…" There was a warning from the older man, but the young soldier was already fixed on the young Prince.
"Of the Elite…" Miguel repeated again in his empty voice. "I am a member of the elite force renown known as the Dragonslayers. Of the Elite is the military term for the unit that is commanded by General Dilandau Albatou."
"Dilandau Albatou? This may not be good…" Boris mumbled as he looked away from Shid back to the imprisoned soldier. "Lavariel, why were you in Freid air space without permission?"
"I had passed into Freid's air space while hunting down a fugitive at the request of Asturia…" The boy said, now looking back at the older advisor.
"What fugitive…?"
"A man… A man that goes by the name of Allen Schezar…"
xXxXxXx
Aiko walked down the hallways, deep in thought. So that's why Van had seemed to be with her all the time…he had promised Ayane. Millerna's voice could be heard down the hall signaling that Aiko was close to the room. The straw doors had been closed to seal off what was happening in the room. Was it her, or did Aiko hear annoyance in Millerna's voice? Shrugging it off, she stepped into the room without a sound. The setting sun had filled the room with golden light; Making Allen and Millerna's hair seem more of an Amber color then the blonde color it was normally. Allen had his hair to one side as Millerna just finished wrapping his torso. It seemed that Millerna was holding a one sided conversation, and Allen was staring off into the distance, looking slightly annoyed. Aiko coughed to announce her presence, making the princess jump slightly.
"You wanted to see me, Allen?" Aiko said quietly, ignoring the glare that Millerna was giving her. Whatever had the blond knight's interest outside that window seemed to fly away as Aiko stepped into the room. The bandages Merle had put on her hand were a little too tight, but she wasn't going to complain about it. The tightness was making pain shoot up her arm each time she closed her hand into a fist. The catgirl walked in after her on all fours just like any normal cat would. Well, normal as in house cat not some giant talking cat. Ok, ya the guy so needed to get a shirt back on. If it hadn't been for the fact that there were more then two of them in the room right now, Aiko was certain Millerna would be drooling.
"Sorry for taking so long… She decided to hide somewhere…" Merle said as she bounded around her to side by the window. Right, Aiko growled slightly in her mind, that catgirl could change her attitude really fast. Only a few seconds ago, she had been acting kind of normal but now she was being her cruel self. What a weird fuzz ball.
"It's alright Merle…" was the responds the cat received while Allen went about trying to get the blue surgical gown on. Not that he was having much luck, every time he moved his left arm he flinched.
"Allen! I told you not to move that arm!" Millerna sat as she jumped into helping him get it back on. Right, Aiko rolled her eyes as she walked a little more into the room before sitting down on the floor. Was it her, or did the heavenly knight look a little uncomfortable at the moment? She waited patiently for him to answer her question; it was obvious that she had gotten here at a bad time. He had probably thought it would take Merle longer to find her. Staring up at the ceiling, she could hear the short struggle to get the gown back on. Now there was the slight uncomfortable feeling of being in here that was probably what Allen was feeling. Ok, so the man wasn't that much of a playboy after all. Hey, he was what almost completely undressed with three girls in the room? Ok maybe not completely undressed, but darn close to it. She heard Millerna move away from the 'bed' to go put away the rest of her bandages that were left over. Pulling her eyes down from the ceiling she looked back at the blond knight. Allen was at the moment staring down at his hands. The look at his face wasn't a few happy one, or a sad one. It was somewhere in between. Ok, what in the world was she missing here? After a few seconds he looked over at her.
"Sorry…" He smiled slightly, the look from a moment again gone. "I wanted to ask you something…"
"Oh?" Aiko looked over at him, waiting for him to continue. "Well, what is it?" She said when he didn't say anything. She turned around so that she was facing him instead of the window.
"Ayane…" The name hung in the air like a sour note. She could hear Millerna drop something in the background but at the moment all ignored it. "She isn't with you all, is she?" Aiko looked back at the ceiling without answering the question. What should she do now? She knew where Ayane was…but she couldn't tell Allen that…He'd probably go after her…injury or no injury. Merle looked at Aiko expectantly. Aiko sighed, and looked over at Allen. Oh well…if the guy got killed…why should she care?
"Ayane…?" Again the name hung in the air. This was probably the first time Aiko had ever said it. Saying things always made them more real. "Ayane is in Zaibach."
xXxXxXxXx
Defy Destiny, why in the world did she tell him that? Sighing, Ayane walked slowly down the corridors carrying the small bucket. Ok, the idea of doing cleaning work wasn't really what she had in mind, but being alone for the next four hours? Defiantly out of the question and besides the last time she had a decent conversation with the man was when she tried to make those Fanelian sweet cakes that so did not turn out right. Her eyes scanned the empty hall carefully, this place was always so freaking empty. And dark. This place really needed new lighting, no wonder everyone looked so depressed all the time. They were denied light! Plus this place and the whole gloomy look on it. Slowly her mind began to wonder away as if seemed to do a lot when she walked in these empty halls. Aiko would be in Freid by now; Guimel had been nice enough to let her use one of his many maps every now and then since she had been here. It hadn't been to hard to kept track of them, actually if Dilandau-sama had been smart enough to ask her, she probably could have told him where Van was when they went to go look for him. She hoped Aiko had listened to her advice for once, and took care of herself. But that was probably unlikely. For a while after she called the girl, Aiko had been trying to call her back. Ayane had heard her cell go off at night. But for some reason she could never bring herself to answer it. Perhaps for too long she had played the lifeline, the girl's crutch when everything fell apart around her for the past three years.
No she wasn't going to think about that at all, no way. She was here, Aiko was there. There was about three hundred miles of land between them. Holding her head up high again she focused on where she was going. Well not really she just let her mind wonder again to something else. Her mask, it had now gained another crack. How long would it be now before it started to show? She had been working so hard to keep it from showing; no one has seen it outside of Aiko. And it would stay that way, no one needed to see it, no one needed to know. Emotions of grief got you nowhere, emotions all together got to nowhere. Ayane's head fell down, bangs falling over her face to cast it into shadows. But, maybe it was all right now? Maybe here she could let it all fall away, maybe…
But then again, maybe never got her anywhere either…
Her feet came to a stop in front of the door, without her even having to look up. Rising her head, she looked into the dark color of it; the navy blue color seemed to be the only kind of difference in color in these halls. She wasn't going to walk in there looking like this. Deep breathes, Aya, deep breathes. Her empty hand typed in the code to the study lock, and the door slide open. As it passed by her face, the familiar smile came back to her lips; the sad confusion left her eyes. None needed to see it; her mask would not fall now. Stepping into the room, the thoughts in her mind that had come to her in the hall vanished.
The porcelain mask would remain.
xVxVxVxVx
Why in the world was there so much paper work that had to be done? Someone back in the main branch in Zaibach must be having a hay day sending him all of this. Probably Merlin, the old coot seemed to enjoy doing that to him ever since he became a Strategoes. Hey it was better then being in the black towers, and the madoushi. Though this seemed to have a lot more paper work then anything else he had done ever did. Sighing he picked up another paper to look at while he filled out another one. The hot breeze went though the study, slightly moving some pieces of paper. He was kind of glad he left his cloak back in his room. It would probably have been too uncomfortable to wear the thing. Though he was going have to go back and get it in a few hours. Dilandau would be back up here after his little melef training session to go over the plans for the invasion. Chancellor Merlin had been sort of open with it, and a lot of what was planned out Folken knew Dilandau did not like. This whole sneak attack thing, the young boy never liked any of it. When the one on Fanelia had been planned out, it had made the young general aggravated for a while. Though, once it was over, Dilandau didn't seem to care about it anymore. What was done was done; there was no changing it. Something that he wished sometimes he could change. Sighing he looked away from the papers to the open balcony doors.
Van……
How much he had grown in the pasted ten years. But that was expected wasn't it? It wasn't like his little brother would stay sweet and innocent forever. He had grown up to know the ways of brutality. He had slain the dragon where his older brother could not. Sometimes he hated fate for that, nothing could ever be changed there was no denying it. Fate had probably set him on this path long before he even knew it. But having to go against his own brother? Fate seemed to have a cruel side to its gift of a new life. A new life that Folken found sometimes he didn't want. Two slim arms, covered in a familiar black cloth fell around his neck, and a head was rested against his.
"What's with the grumpy looking face, Onii-san?" Ayane planted her head down on his shoulder. Folken looked side ways at her, not remembering the door ever opening. She had started taken up the habit of calling him that, even since the whole "sweet cakes" incident that they had. Though, he had no clue in what in meant, all she would tell him was that it was in her native language. Then they ended up in a conversation into how she was able to understand and speak in Gaea tongue when it was not her native. It ended up getting them nowhere and giving him a headache. Placing the paper down that was in his metal claw; he looked back out to the clear sky that loomed outside the Vione. "Onii-san?"
"Nothing, I'm fine Ayane…"
"Aya…or imouto!" She looked at him with a pouty face. And then there was that, the girl had been trying to make him call her by the nickname that the Dragonslayers had taken up or by what ever she was saying in her native tongue. Though, Folken had been raise with the idea that abbreviating someone's name was unrespectful, he had made a refusing note not to call her that. But her persistence was starting to get strong.
"Alright…" He sighed slightly before looking at her again. "Why are you here, imouto?"
"Yeah!" Ayane throw her hands up off his neck and slightly danced around the room. "I finally got you to say something in Japanese!"
"It doesn't help much, if I don't know what it means…" She stopped spinning around the room and looked at him smiling. The young woman seemed to enjoy doing this to him. Her little victory smile did last very long as she suddenly fell backwards. Oddly, Folken found himself jumping to his feet as she hit the floor. "Ayane!"
"Hoie…" Ayane was on the floor, her foot trapped inside a bucket that had spilled out its contents on the floor. With one hand holding her up off the floor, she used the other to rub the back of her head. "Hoie…. That hurts…"
"Are you alright?" She looked up at him confused for a moment, and then smiled. It was probably the biggest smile he had even sent the young woman use.
"Gomen! I'm such a klutz!" Shaking his head, Folken sat back down to return the paper works. Sometimes he wondered about that girl. Though she probably didn't need to answer his question now, the last time she had been in his study she had said it needed to be cleaned. He could hear her get back up onto her feet as he picked the piece of paper that he had been reading back up. He really need to get this stuff finished, it had been piling up for the pasted few weeks now. Books started to be moved about as the young woman went about her work. He looked up momentarily at her as she dusted; her braided hair barely touched her shoulders now. The blue color was mixed though out the end of it. She seemed to be really happy doing that; the smile on her face that had appeared from when he spoke that word didn't seem to fall away just yet. Gods, maybe he should be more careful in what he says, hopeful that word did not mean what he was thinking but something else. He had gotten a great deal down along the paper pretty far before he stopped again. Ayane was humming to herself, but that had started when she first began to dust. She did that when she was cleaning, Folken had noted before but now. Her soft quiet voice was, singing.
Teritsukeru taiyou ni unadarenai sono hana wa
(That flower doesn't wither even under the glaring sun)
Kore kara no michi wo yuku daiji na kimi no tomoshibi
(I travel down the road from here, my footprints leading in your precious light)
Ashiato wa tsumibukaku sajin no iro wo someteku
(This sand cloud's color is becoming stained)
Honmono no sono wa doko?
(But where is the real thing?)
Koe wo age nobashita te ni fureteita kiseki no me wa
(I raise my voice and touch the hand that reached out to me)
Omoigakenai katachi ni
(The eyes of this miracle take on an unimaginable shape)
She seemed so content there sing in her own tongue. Smiling as she worked, Ayane seemed to be ignoring his presence. The young woman didn't have a loud, strong voice when she sung, but it was soft and smoothing. Setting the paper down on the table, no longer interested in reading it, Folken leaned back in his chair to watch and listen to her. The young woman's voice came strong sounding as she went on.
Dakiyosete kanjiru nukumori ga kotae de
(From your answer, I feel the warmth nestling in)
Shinjiteite yokatta to namida afureta
(I'm glad I believed, my eyes suddenly brimmed with tears)
Toki wo -
(Two flow-)
Ayane's voice stopped in a sudden gasp, and she fell against the bookshelf. Folken stood quietly up again as he had when she fell over the bucket. The towel in her hand fell to the floor as she raised her hands up to her neck. A coughing spasm started then as she slowly fell to the floor.
"Ayane?" He moved quietly over to her as she continued coughing, each time getting worse. "Ayane!" The girl was gripping down on her own neck by the time he got to her. He tried to pull them off but couldn't as they remained tightly sealed. Fear echoed in her steel gray eyes. A light illuminated beneath her hands, the dark navy blue of her pendent. "Ayane, what's wr-"
"To defy…" The words passed her lips in a gasp for air.
xXxXxXxXx
This was so not the greatest idea in the freaking world. It had taken them an hour and half to get here, leaving them with nothing more the two hours. The worse part of it was, they had no ideal what to do now. Viole and Gatty stood outside the main walls of the capital of Freid with their stealth cloaks on. They had to walk all the way here once they got close enough to have to worry about being seen. Both of them had been quiet for a while now, just looking at the capital. Gods, this was going to be some much harder then they all thought. Sighing, Gatty rested his head against the headrest. What were they going to do now?
"Gatty?"
"Ya?"
"Any ideals?" Well, this was great, they got this far and now they were clueless. Maybe one of them should go sneak into the palace, and then into the dungeon. But then that would put them into danger of being found. They couldn't get caught! Damn it! This was all Miguel's fau-
"Gatty there's movement in the city! I think it's Miguel's guymelef... but I'm not to sure. Fuck, what's wrong with my scope!"
"Hold on a minute and let me look…" Gatty moved his controls quickly now. This might work if Miguel had gotten free, they could get him back to Vione that way. His spy scope rose above the city wall to look inward. Sure enough, it was a Zaibach design. By the time he got a good look at it, the melef disappeared with its stealth cloak. Though that wasn't all, it seemed that Miguel was engaged… with the dragon. "What the! You moron don't fight him get out of there!"
"Gatty drop me over the wall!" The blond commander turned to his attention to the com.
"What!"
"You heard me! Drop me over the wall!" He could hear the sounds of Viole's cockpit being opened.
xXxXxXxXx
"Zaibach?" Allen's eyes had gone wide after the words had set in. "What in Gaia is she doing there?" Aiko continued to stare at the ceiling. She really didn't know why Ayane went there…all she knew was that the girl had known some of the soldiers that served under the bastard. "Aiko!" Aiko looked at him, her eyes expressionless.
"I don't know…" Aiko said calmly, looking back at the ceiling. "I don't have any control as to where she goes or what she does …" Allen studied the young girl across from him. Aiko was being way too calm about this…She must know something else for her to be this calm.
"Aren't you worried? You're her friend! Aren't you worried that she might be harmed, injured or worse?" Millerna said for the first time on the subject. Aiko turned her head to look at her with expressionless eyes.
"No…Ayane can take care of herself. She's a big girl…If she wants to be with the bastard, fine by me…" Aiko turned back to look at the ceiling. Allen looked at Merle who shrugged. The girl was being way too calm for this…the Aiko that was aboard the Crusade and the Aiko that was before him now seemed like two different girls.
"Aiko, don't hide anything from me…" Aiko didn't respond at first. Finally she looked at Allen, the corners of her mouth turning upwards in a semi smile.
"I'm not hiding anything Allen. I know that Ayane is alright…and that's all that matters…ne?" Suddenly screams erupted from the courtyard below the room as the building shook violently.
"Zaibach is attacking so soon?" Merle said as she jumped to look out the window. Dust fell from the ceiling as another violent shake ran through it.
"Aiko, Help me…We've got to move Allen to a safer room…" Millerna said as she quickly cross the room to the blond Knight. It was evident that the room might not be a safe place to stay in much longer. Aiko sighed as she placed Allen's right arm over her shoulders and helped Millerna get the man to his feet. There was a grunt from him as they got Allen up; he got hurt more then Aiko thought he had saving her life. Maybe she did owe him something for that instead of yelling at him later. Besides, Ayane won't be very happy with her if she had died. Just as Merle was about to open the door for them to go through, all the shutters opened to reveal Freid soldiers and the elder man who was always with Prince Shid, Boris.
"Allen Schezar, you are here by put under arrest for treason."
"What?" The word left Allen's mouth in disbelieve as he looked at the older man.
"Allen, how could you?" The voice of the young prince asked angrily as he stepped out from behind the older man. He stood to the side with his head looking down. The rumbling outside had stopped now. Actually it had probably stopped when they had been trying to get Allen to his feet.
"Prince Shid? There must be some mistake!" Millerna said now. Suddenly, a grunt from Allen turned her attention away from her nephew. The blond knight now had to support half his weight as Aiko stepped away from him slowly. Her jade eyes hidden from view by her black bangs. "Aiko, wh-"
"To defy…" Her voice left her lips, eerily, though the voice was not just of her own but another's as well. Something else shadowed behind Aiko's voice, the sound of another speaking sounded like…
"Ayane…?" The name came from Allen as he held on to his side with his free arm. Aiko stopped a few feet away from them, her head slowly raised. The necklace around her neck began to glow a faint green as she continued to speak.
"To defy Destiny one must be willing to pay the price… Can you pay the price to save your country young prince?" Prince Shid snapped around to look at her startled; actually Aiko had the whole group startled. Several of the soldiers took a slightly step back as if they did not understand what was happening. They were here to arrest the heavenly knight, but the prisoner had escaped as well now, cause havoc outside.
"What?"
"Do you have the strength to defy your Destiny? Freid will burn because you choose to listen to the two-faced pawn."
"Two-faced…pawn?" The young prince stepped forward slightly.
"Prince Shid!" The warning from the older man was ignored.
"Freid will burn…Gaea will burn because you believed in the wrong."
"Aiko stop! Snap out of it!" Merle shouted as she stepped forward to slap the Mysticer, in hopes to break her of this trance. But before her claws could come even close to Aiko's cheek, her hand was grabbed by the Mysticer's faster hand. The gripped on Merle's hand was so strong it forced her down on her knees as she tried to yank it free. "Aiko! Let go! That hurts!"
"To defy Destiny… the price to save one's life…" Aiko looked down at Merle, eyes still covered by her bangs. The cat girl looked up at her as tears started to swill in her eyes from the pain.
"Please…Aiko…"
"What's the price to save life?" Shid suddenly said out loud. The Mysticer's head slowly turned to face him. Raising her head, the black bangs fell away from her eyes, revealing the empty jade color.
"The price to defy……………………Is death." The young woman collapsed to the ground.
XoX
Aiko walked slowly as she looked around her. Everywhere…in every direction as far as the eye could see was blackness. She couldn't even see her hand two centimeters from her face. Just a second ago she was helping the human eye sore out of bed and into a safer room. The guards came and then everything went dark.
"What the hell…?" She asked no one in particular. "Where the hell am I? Merle? Millerna?" the words echoed off of unseen walls as she continued to walk. "Ayane? Van? Where the hell am I?!" The words played themselves back as she continued to walk. Growling, she stopped and looked around again. "What the hell happened…how did I get here?" Silence. That was her answer. That was the only sound that occupied her ears. Usually she liked the silence…but this was different. "Where the fuck is everyone!" She pounded the ground, the 'thump' echoing until it disappeared. She got up and ran. She didn't know where she was running to, or what she was running from. She just wanted to get out of this place. She finally dropped to her knees from running so far, her breaths coming out in short painful pants. "What the fuck? Where the hell am I! Somebody answer me, damn it!" Aiko fell to her hands and knees. Looking up, she saw nothing but blackness. "Van…Ayane…" She whispered, arms shaking from her weight. "Where are you when I need you, Aya?"
"To defy Destiny…"Aiko's head snapped up at the sound of her friend's voice.
"Aya…?" The ground below her seemed to light up and taking on color. Something was moving but she couldn't see what it was. Standing up quickly Aiko study the ground. The different colors of blue and gray took shape in the darkness; strange green eyes stared up at her. Aiko stepped back.
"To defy, are you willing to pay the price?" Aiko looked sharply away from the green eyed THING that was projected on the ground, the moving picture. Standing not to far from her was Ayane dressed in some sort of uniform. Her eyes were hidden underneath the loose bangs of hers. Aiko rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Sure enough, Ayane was still standing there in her bizarre looking dress…but then again she's always wearing bizarre looking dresses.
"Ayane…" Aiko breathed in relief as she ran up to give the girl a hug. Finally she was getting somewhere. Maybe Ayane knew where they were…and how they could escape as well. As soon as she came into contact with her, however, Ayane went limp. "Ayane? What the hell is going on?" Ayane didn't respond, and her body was as cold as ice. Aiko's eyes widened as fear gripped her. "Ayane! Come on, Ayane wake up! Don't you dare die on me!" Shaking the girl violently, Aiko tried to get the girl to wake up as tears pricked her eyes. "Damn it Ayane… if you die on me, so help me god I'll…" No matter how much she shook the girl, nothing worked.
"I don't want to die… someone please… Save me." Aiko's head snapped around. That was Miguel's voice. What in the world was going on! Turning quickly back to Ayane, she stepped back suddenly hand's coming up to her face. Ayane was gone. No one was there. The image below her disappeared and she was once again bathed in darkness. But it didn't last as something else appeared below her. Someone was running down a dark stone hallway. She could see a shimmering sword in his hand, as the curly haired brunette ran on. The Zaibach uniform made him almost disappear into the dark hallway.
"I won't let him die… I refuse to let him die…" Snapping her eyes away from the ground Aiko looked forward again. It was brighter now, sort of in this darkness. She could see the both of them on the ground. The Dragonslayer, Miguel was leaning against her, head limp on her shoulder. His left leg was cut badly, blood dripped down off it. Ayane's arms encircled his waist to hold him up as she sat behind him. "I will pay the price… to defy Destiny." Aiko's face paled as she ran towards them.
"NO AYANE! DON'T DO IT!" Aiko yelled as she continued running towards them. "Please, Ayane!" Pretty soon, she was within ten feet of the two. "Aya…Please…" She tried to peel Ayane's arms from Miguel's waist, but as soon as she touched her arm, a sharp pain exploded within her chest and everything went dark.
XoX
I don't want to die… someone please… Save me. The air was no longer able to reach his lungs, Miguel wasn't dumb. He was about to die, killed by the damn doppelganger. Damn that boy, how in the world did he know that he was behind him? It was all his fault that he was going to die like this. Miguel knew he shouldn't have stayed to fight him though; it wasn't the young king's fault really. The redheaded Dragonslayer had made the mistake and now was going to have to pay the ultimate price for it. Zongi's cold hands dug down into his neck as they prepared to end this. He was probably just going to break his neck now. They would be looking for him soon, that was if they weren't to busy with Allen. Miguel never dreamed that his life would end like this. He would have rather gone out in battle then like this, but it seemed even destiny had a cruel fate for him. Hopefully Ayane could forgive him for breaking his promise. She had told him to be careful and he hadn't listened to her. Now here he was about to-
Air flushed into his lungs suddenly as he fell down to the ground. His coughing spasm made it hard for him to hear the 'thug' as something fell to the ground heavily behind him. Well it looked like he might not die that way after all. Someone picked him up, holding him so that he could get his breath back. Maybe Miguel was just destined to die of the executioner's block instead.
"Miguel, you are one lucky bastard…" Viole's voice said, slightly chuckling. Miguel turned his head to the side to look at the brunette in disbelieve. A bloody sword lay on the ground next to him.
"Viole?" The boy smiled at him slightly. Even though it had been Miguel who had the brush with death, he could feel the boy shaking slightly.
"Sorry for taking so long partner…"
"You…" Miguel didn't get to finish what he was saying as Viole quickly pulled him to his feet.
"You can tell me how much you want a new partner later, ok? Gatty's waiting for us…"
xXxXxXxXx
"What is going on here?" Van yelled as he was roughly pulled out of his guymelef by the Freid guards. What was happening? Why did they stop him? That Zaibach soldier was going to get away now. Everything was happening to fast now, the Freid guymelefs had grabbed hold of the Escaflowne before he could get the kid, and now here he was being ruff handled. He couldn't understand a thing that any of them were saying. Allen? Treason? Against Asturia?
"Van!" Merle's voice cried out into the courtyard as she ran passed a few of the now puzzled guards. Somewhere behind her, he could see the head of the young Freid prince as he made his way through the corridor that lead out here. The cat girl pushed passed the men, holding her right hand near her chest as she moved. "Get out of my way! And let him go you morons!"
"Merle?" The two guards that had been holding on to him left go as the cat girl got closer.
"Van… You have to come quickly… Aiko, she's…"
SD: MWAHAHAHA! A cliffy! I'm so evil!
GA1:….What do you mean by you're so evil? I'm the one who typed most of it…
SD: Hey! It's not my fault that my Boss has me working five days out of the week…
GA1: Welcome to my world…
SD: Glares Shut up….
GA1: smirks and huggles dilly doll
Edited 12/29/06