"Fools!" The young man slammed his fist down hard on the closest solid surface he could find. "How could they let them escape?"
"Dilandau…" A dark cloaked figure made his way towards the young man. "Calm yourself."
"How can I calm myself?" Dilandau seethed. "When I know that the King of Fanelia is not within our grasp?"
"The Emperor was displeased, but that does not mean we have lost our chance. Bring him to me, Dilandau, before the sun sets. Then you will have regained my trust, my respect."
Dilandau bit down hard on the inside of his cheek, savouring the taste of the blood that seeped into his mouth. He could handle the pain, but he would not let this man see his weakness. His fear.
He nodded his head in acquiescence. "Very well. You will have him, just as you wish, Folken-sama."
It had all been a dream, Scully was certain. How else could she explain such a strange world – where the Earth hung in the sky – to herself? Where men fought dragons and piloted enormous armoured suits?
"Scully" She slowly opened her eyes to find Mulder standing over her, a look of concern and confusion clear on his face. And the Earth still stared back at her from the heavens.
She was still in Gaea.
"I'm fine." Scully lied, sitting up. Merle, Van and Allen studied her from behind Mulder. Scully noted that they were standing in an endless field, no sign of civilization in sight. "Where are we?"
"We thought you would be able to tell us." Van explained, walking up to her. "You were the one who brought us here."
"I did?"
Allen shot Scully a suspicious look. "You do not remember?"
"Where are we, then? Why did the one from the Mystic Moon bring us here to the middle of nowhere?" Merle whined, glaring at Scully.
"No matter." Mulder countered gruffly. "We need to search for other travellers, anyone who can tell us where we are."
The group chose to trek on in silence. Scully scanned the area and heaved a sigh of relief as they finally spotted a row of small huts in the distance. They would find help soon enough.
"Allen!" Van's voice rang out in panic. Allen was on his knees, gripping his stomach.
"We need to keep on." Allen demanded, gritting his teeth in pain. "Come on."
"Move." Scully commanded, pushing Van out of the way. She kneeled in front of the knight, removing his hands from his stomach.
Allen grunted harshly. "You're bleeding!" Scully's eyes widened in shock as she applied pressure to his wound. They had not escaped their invisible assassins unscathed.
"Can you help him?" Mulder asked, watching Scully tear her own sleeve to create a makeshift bandage.
"I'll need more supplies than this. And it doesn't look like those huts are exactly well-equipped."
"Van-sama, what will we do?" Merle asked sadly. Allen was in no shape for more walking.
"Allen!" A sharp voice shouted. A young woman with wavy blonde hair rushed to Allen's side. She was followed by four large men; her bodyguards. "What happened?"
"Princess Millerna!" Van said. "He is badly injured."
"Quickly, bring him to the palace!" Millerna ordered her men before turning back to Van. "I had sent him to Fanelia to aid you in your trials. How did you reach this place?"
"I will try to explain to you as best as I can, Millerna, but first you must tell me where it is that we are."
"This is the holy village of Kantare, on the outskirts of Basram. My men were accompanying me on my pilgrimage." Millerna released a breath in relief. "It is only through the mercy of the Gods that I found you when I did."
"How is he?" Scully asked Millerna once they had reached the palace.
Millerna's hair was now tied back and she eyed Scully in perplexity. She wondered who this woman with strange clothes and a ripped sleeve was, but the enormity of Allen's condition drove all questions from her mind.
"He will be fine the sooner I get started." She replied briskly. Millerna turned to walk away, but Scully's hand found her wrist.
"Let me help."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm a doctor." Scully offered.
Millerna glanced at Van doubtfully. Who was this woman, and was she really telling the truth? Could she be trusted?
"I am." Scully insisted earnestly. "Allen could use both of us."
Van nodded almost imperceptibly and Millerna's resolve was broken. She could use all of the help she could get. Allen…Allen needed to live.
"Come quickly." Millerna ordered. "There is little time to waste."
Mulder eyed the chambers of Basram anxiously. He was a wanted man, even in this country. It was foolish of him to accompany Van and Merle in their audience with the Basram Senate.
"Scared, kitsune?" Merle teased as she clinged to Van, before her voice sobered. "You should be…"
The council of men before him watched Mulder scrutinizingly before choosing to ignore him, as if he was not worthy of their consideration. Mulder grimaced, unsure whether such dismissal was a blessing or a curse.
"Lord Van of Fanelia, Princess Millerna's men have informed us that you are to be her guest. Basram is honoured by your presence; please let us know what accommodations you will require." The oldest senator graciously offered.
"I thank you, Elder." Van gave a quick bow. "But I fear that I can not stay – the longer I do the greater the danger will be for Basram."
"What danger?"
Van lowered his eyes. "Fanelia has been attacked. Burned to the ground… Zaibach is after my blood and I will not allow the people of Basram to suffer the same fate." His voice stood firm. "And so I bid you farewell. I am certain that Princess Millerna will ensure that no harm comes to Allen."
Mulder grabbed Van's arm before he could leave. "Are you crazy?" He hissed. "If you go off alone you are as good as dead. They will find you, Van."
"…That is exactly what I want."
Mulder watched in shock as Van wordlessly stalked out, Merle scampering hastily behind him.
Millerna let out a sigh of relief. Allen was stable for the moment. She shot Scully a sidelong glance. Had it not been for the strange girl she may have not succeeded.
Scully spoke, almost as if reading her mind. "I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help. I don't usually work on the living." She attempted a smile.
"Y-you are not from…here, are you?" Millerna ventured.
"Um, my name is Dana Scully. I…I'm from Earth."
"Earth?" Millerna did not understand.
"The… Mystic Moon?" Scully ventured.
Millerna's eyes grew wide. "I do not understand."
Scully sighed. Neither did she.
Millerna composed herself quickly, hiding her shock. She bowed her head slightly, urging Scully to continue on.
"I don't know how… or why – but Mulder – he believes that I was sent here for a purpose."
She quirked an eyebrow at Scully, extremely incredulous of the mercenary's beliefs. "And what purpose is that?"
"I have no idea." Scully admitted.
Millerna smiled indulgently, ever the gracious princess. "Whatever your purpose is, Dana, I am thankful that you are here with me today. I am in your debt for saving Allen."
Without warning, Mulder burst through the doors, frantically searching until his eyes landed on Millerna and Scully.
"Princess! Is Allen well?"
"He should be fine for the time being." Scully answered. "Mulder, what's wrong?"
Mulder clenched his jaw. "Van. He has left Asturia and plans to avenge Fanelia all on his own. Allen and I need to find him, stop him before it is far too late."
"Allen is in no condition to race after him. Van has always been too brash and stubborn for his own good." Millerna's flippant reply was betrayed by the apprehension that settled in her eyes.
"We are to leave him to die?" Mulder asked in disbelief.
"And what else would you have me do? We cannot risk all of our lives for him; we have already risked too much."
Millerna and Mulder stared at one another, neither willing to back down.
"A flying fortress in the sky, black like the night…" Scully muttered. She closed her eyes tightly, feeling a wave of dizziness roll over her.
"Scully?" Mulder pressed her on gently. "What did you see?"
Another vision. What exactly had she just seen?
"A stronghold in the sky. He will bring Van there soon."
"Who will?" Mulder urged.
"The man with the fires of hell in his eyes."
"Van-sama!" Merle called out, her breathing ragged from chasing after him. "Stop. Please!"
Van's pace slowed and Merle noted the determination and strength he had displayed at the Basram Senate slowly dissolve.
"They are gone, Merle. All of them. My father, my brother, my mother. My people. The legacy of Fanelia has been turned to dust. How will I ever repay Zaibach for all that they have taken from me?"
Merle grabbed his arm and held on tightly. "It is a blessing that we are still alive. I will help you, Van-sama, I will do all that I can to make sure that we get our revenge. And then we will work together to rebuild. Nothing can ever truly destroy the great Kingdom of Fanelia."
Van's eyes softened at his companion's words. The odds were stacked against them, but he could always trust Merle to be by his side.
"Merle, thank you. I –"
Van's words were cut short, a sharp slick crima claw striking squarely between him and Merle.
A haunting laugh echoed through the red guymelef that now stood before them.
"Lord Van, we finally meet."