Severed

by Eboni

When a premature separation experiment leaves Dilandau weak and disoriented, his Dragonslayers must protect him from himself and unexpected enemies from within the country they are sworn to protect. Warning: Shounen ai

35. Chapter 31

Author's Note: Sniff, sniff After 3 years, here I am at the last chapter. I never meant for this story to take so long to write, but I didn't want it to end. There will be a much shorter follow up story after this, but Severed is coming to a close. I will warn you that this chapter is extremely long, and that Cat says do not eat or drink while reading Dallet's POV near the end of this.

Ok, well... I hope you guys like this, and thanks so much for sticking with me for so long. The epilogue will be posted in a week's time at most, and I might include another quick one-shot before it.

---

Chapter 31

Salt and vinegar...

Dilandau had read a lot of books and he couldn't recall one that spoke of kisses tasting like salt and vinegar. Kisses were described as sweet things, like sugar and honey. Lips were usually soft and moist like recently washed, ripe berries; deepening kisses caused tart berry juice to trickle into your mouth over your tongue. The recipient let the flavor roll over his taste buds, like a wine connoisseur judging vintage wines. Book-kisses read like rich desserts after gourmet meals.

Dilandau leaned on his window sill, peering out at the smoke billowing in the blue horizon, and licked his lips. He didn't appreciate gourmet meals and always skipped dessert. He wasn't fond of sweet things or drinks where the flavor had to be contemplated. Liquor was liquor to him and sweets had no nutritional value. He preferred his wine dry and food as simple as the salt and vinegar used to preserve perishable goods for weeks.

Direct and straightforward. Salt and vinegar. Their tastes were distinct. Either you liked them or you didn't. There could be no debate. There were no unnecessary additives to mask their flavor and make them taste better to people who preferred tarts and cream puffs.

Dilandau smirked. Salt and vinegar kisses for a salt and vinegar guy. No one would be writing any romance novels about Van Slanzar de Fanel anytime soon, but that was all right. Dilandau didn't like romance novels. He liked adventure novels where sweet kisses were as common as good hygiene aboard pirate ships. He liked– he liked awkward closed-mouth kisses with lips not so soft, and dry to the point of being a bit crusty even. He–he even liked the sharp, tangy smells of smoke, oil, and tree sap on Van's skin.

It was exciting–the feeling he had when Van kissed him, twice. Dilandau felt something stir in his stomach other than nausea that made him want to laugh out loud. It felt good. It felt–right. But why was that? How could one person that was not one of his team or a member of his family make him feel so– ah, he didn't know–happy? Giddy? It was like there were bubbles in his stomach, but when he'd told Marie about it she'd laughed at him, hard, and mussed his hair.

Damn woman, and to think she and Folken were now an item. Dilandau almost felt sorry for his surrogate big brother. Almost. Sprinklers and hoses came to mind before sympathy.

"Lord Dilandau, can you sit down and daydream?"

Dilandau looked over his shoulder at Guimel coming through the curtained entrance of his room, holding a covered pitcher of ice water. The tow-headed blond quirked a brow at Dilandau and carried the water to the card table.

"I'm not daydreaming."

"Sure you're not. Let me rephrase my request. Do you think you can come do what you claim you're not doing closer to me, so I can catch you if you fall? You're seriously starting to sway over there."

Dilandau scowled and came to the table where Guimel was refilling Dilandau's water glass. The wheels of the stupid IV pole snagged in the carpet every few steps, and Dilandau had to pause and fumble with the thing. Damn nuisance. He sat down in front of his glass and took a quick sip.

"So, have you decided yet?"

"That all of you are good-for-nothing, ungrateful, annoying shits? Why yes, I have." Dilandau hid a smile behind his hand at the amusement in Guimel's eyes. It was good to see the storm clouds finally dissipating from Guimel's demeanor. He'd been a wreck when Dallet had brought him in. He'd thought–he'd thought Dilandau had died.

The thought sobered Dilandau. Contrary to popular belief, Guimel was the sensitive one of the group. He wasn't as open as Viole, or as obvious as Shesta, but Dilandau was careful around him. Guimel cared more than he shared, and Dilandau didn't want to know half of what had been going through Guimel's mind these past few weeks when everything seemed to be going to hell. He didn't want to know what had been going through anyone's mind. All that mattered was that everything was going to be all right now. Folken had seen to it. Allen had seen to it. Van had...

"How could you guys not tell me Van liked me like that? I can't believe you all knew about it!"

Guimel laughed. "Well, we didn't want to insult your intelligence by telling you something so obvious."

Dilandau blinked. "So, now I'm stupid?"

Guimel just about fell out of his chair laughing. "No." He sobered. "Just really innocent when it comes to things like recognizing when someone has feelings for you."

Dilandau felt himself flushing and was glad Marie wasn't there with a blood pressure cuff. She'd sentence him to bed rest. "I notice when people–"

Guimel cut him off. "You notice when people leer or give off creepy pervert vibes. You don't notice soft stares from girls who want you to be their hero and wish for nothing more than to be the wife that cooks your meals and bears your children. It's like you recognize potential threats and everything else is beneath your radar. Refina used to call you Captain Oblivious. She said for a guy aware of so much going on around him, you were aware of so little."

"Refina?" Dilandau felt a pang in his gut. He saw a flash of the red-haired girl smirking at him and saying, 'I'll give it my all, milord.'

"She wore perfume when she thought you'd be working close by her," Guimel said, sounding as far away as Dilandau felt. He recalled the hint of peach he'd always smelled when he neared Refina.

"She bought you baskets of fresh fruit and bread every time we had leave, when she wouldn't buy anything for anyone else."

Dilandau chewed his lip. She had. Dilandau had kept all of the baskets, lining them up in his closet after the goods were long gone. He'd used them to hold ink jars, quills, and charcoals. Refina had liked him– like that– like Van.

"She should have said something," like Van, because Dilandau was too foolish to notice on his own. "If she had said something–"

"You might have had something?" The skin around Guimel's eyes crinkled a bit; he was probably smiling behind the white mask he wore over his mouth, despite the sadness in his voice. "Maybe, but she didn't. She wasn't that kind of girl, and maybe you weren't ready for something like that then. You've changed a lot since the Vione, Lord Dilandau."

"I still didn't notice Van."

Guimel brightened. "Oh, I think you did in a way. You just didn't understand that you did. You light up when he's around, and you pay special attention to him. You didn't do that for Refi. It was only a matter of time, before one of you made a move. Van just had a little push."

"From Miguel, Shesta, and Viole. I still can't believe those bastards." Dilandau banished tears from his eyes, putting thoughts of clever Refina out of mind. Refi, the only female chosen by him, not Celena, to join their team.

Guimel shook his head. "Me either. Well, Viole maybe, but Miguel and Shes, no way. I wish I had been there to hear that conversation. Oh, and speaking of Shesta." Guimel scrounged around in the pocket of his breeches, shifting and pulling out a folded slice of paper. "Here's your note."

Dilandau looked heavenward. Did he even want to read this one? He and Shesta had been passing notes since early that morning. It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Their messages to each other had started off as things like: Stop faking sick and come entertain me. I'm bored –D. Hire a jester –S. Now they were: So, how did you like that kiss? You can thank me later by the way ;) –S. Eat shit and die –D.

"We're all waiting for you response, you know."

Dilandau placed his hand over the note on the table and played with its edges. Van said he was waiting for a response too, but he'd told Dilandau to take his time and decide. Only, Dilandau licked his lips, he already knew Van left a good taste in his mouth. He thought about Van, the gangly boy-king that wasn't taller than Dilandau when Van wore boots and Dilandau did not. He thought about strong fingers massaging his scalp and firm muscles under his fingertips as he'd rubbed fine detail into the landscape he'd created on Van's chest. That night–if Dilandau hadn't known better he would have thought it was a date. He knew better now.

Dilandau saw Van sitting where Guimel sat now, describing how it felt to be attracted to someone, to Miguel, only Van had never been attracted to Miguel. Could Van have been telling Dilandau what it was like to fall for him?

Dilandau saw the warmth in Van's cinnamon eyes and his stomach fluttered. He placed a hand over it and swallowed hard.

"Lord Dilandau, are you ok?" Guimel leaned toward him.

Dilandau nodded. "I'm fine, and– " Refina hadn't said anything and if she had, who knew what could have happened, no matter what Guimel thought. Dilandau wasn't going to let something like that happen again. "–I liked it. I like him."

Guimel's eyes widened. "Come again?"

"I like Van Fanel. I don't know if it's love, like he said, but if he can give me time, maybe." Dilandau's stomach did a somersault that tickled his ribs. He laughed. "I like the way he tastes."

Dilandau wished he could see Guimel's mouth. He knew the other boy was probably mouthing all sorts of obscenities or maybe he was slack-jawed. Guimel was quiet for a long time, eyes blinking furiously, before he cleared his throat. "Well."

"Well?"

"I sure hope Lord Van survives this war, so you can tell him you appreciate his bold royal flavor. What's he taste like anyway?"

"Salt and vinegar," Dilandau said absently, ignoring Guimel's, "Yech." He wanted to look out the window again. It was a little pointless, since he could see nothing of the war from that vantage point. However, if he could see nothing, that meant the war hadn't, and with skill, would never enter the capitol city.

That was good, but still, he wanted to see. The outcome of this war would determine which route his life would take next. Van could come back and Dilandau would tell him how he felt. Allen could come back and bring Celena and Dilandau would have a family, a real blood family. Maybe all, one, or none of those things could happen, and Dilandau wouldn't know until it was all over and heads were counted.

He hated sitting out.

He opened Shesta's note.

It sucks to be on the sidelines, doesn't it? –S.

"Guimel, can you get my pen off the night stand?"

It seems you've developed a psychic gift. Do a trick for me. Tell my fortune. –D.

---

Folken cringed as Marie hummed tunelessly while she turned down the comforter on the bed. Her room was beige and white and obviously made for a female. No wonder Dryden had insisted someone show them to their rooms when they'd first come. Imagine if he or Pearce had mistakenly taken this room. The horror. The bed had a canopy, the chairs had flowery cushions, the vanity was lined with lace and the overlying scent of talc powder polluted everything. Folken had never ventured into Marie's personal territory before, and frankly, he was a little scared.

"You look scared, Folken. What's the matter, think I'm going to jump your bones just because I've lured you to my room? Sit down." Marie flopped down on the bed and crossed her ankles.

Folken cleared his throat and remained standing near the doorway. The door was partially open; he used the toe of his boot as a door jab. "Ah– well, it is improper for a gentleman to be in a bedroom alone with a lady without having both his feet on the floor."

Marie gave an indecent laugh and tucked her arms behind her head. "Listen to Mr. Courtly Manners over there. You abdicated your throne, but not your ideals. I'll let you in on a secret: most monarchs are infamous for their indiscretions, so join me."

Folken gapped. The woman rolled onto her side to study him, the curve of her breasts peeking through the v-neck of her shirt. Folken cleared his throat again and adjusted his cloak. "Uh–I think I should go check on Dilandau again. He looked a little flushed when I..."

"You need to learn the different between a blush and a flush, my dear. Our little Dilandau has been kissed, and now it's about time I get kissed. Come on, I promise to keep my hands where you can see them. Honestly, I've never met such a prudish man. I bet Lord Dryden would love–"

Folken was hot, and it wasn't for Marie. The thought of Dryden coming in here while Marie was lying in bed and taking advantage of her made him want to hit something. "Dryden better not try anything. You're mine."

Marie's brows shot up and her lips formed a perfect "o". "My, my, Mr. Manners is certainly possessive, and I think it's kind of sexy. I'm yours, huh?"

Folken was slowly cooling and as his temperature lowered his rationale returned. Oh gods. Had he said– well, she was. Even if he didn't think he could do what she was ready to do just yet, he didn't want anyone else thinking they could. Marie was special and she deserved someone who would treat her like she was special. A shallow person like Dryden wouldn't be able to appreciate Marie's finer qualities, the ones that made her intelligent and challenging and witty, and beautiful.

Folken undid the clasp at his neck and his cloak fell away. He moved to the bed, sitting down on the edge of it and leaning over to remove his boots. Marie hummed again as she sat up and scooted to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his back. She was warm, soft, and not wearing a brassiere. The skin on Folken's back was very sensitive to touch, and he could feel her hardening nipples shielded only by a thin shirt.

There would be no children to interrupt them this time. They were all occupied. Shesta and Viole were in bed. Dilandau and Guimel were playing cards. Gatty, Miguel and Dallet were working with cadets in their training hall. Pearce was probably monitoring the war. As much as Folken wanted to put the war out of mind while saving Dilandau's life, he couldn't. Communication systems had been wired into every melef and leviship fighting under the Astorian flag and every lookout point within the borders. Folken would have play by play details given to him about the war. He was confident that Astoria would take this battle from Zaibach, but he was still wary of Dornkirk. There was no telling what that man could have up his sleeves. Folken's eyes narrowed.

Oh. His back arched at Marie's teeth grazing his neck and his feet left the floor. He was no longer a gentleman. Folken laid down, letting Marie straddle him. He stared up at his grinning partner. "Let's make you infamous Mr. Manners."

Folken lay still as Marie undid the buttons of his shirt. "Tell me to stop, if you start feeling uncomfortable, Folken. Don't let me push you into giving more than you feel you can."

Folken nodded. He started trembling lightly. He didn't know if it was from apprehension or arousal; maybe it was both. Either way, Folken didn't want Marie to stop. Long fingers worked through his hair, slicking wayward strands out of his eyes and off his forehead. "You can touch me too, Folken."

Folken was stunned into action. Clumsy hands that felt as heavy as blocks reached out to cup Marie's firm buttocks. She gasped, then laughed, lowering her head until her hair tickled his chest. Folken felt something warm and wet dragging across the skin of his chest. She was tasting him. Folken wondered what he tasted like, what she tasted like today. He caught her head, stilling it, and she looked at him. "Kiss me," Folken said softly and she complied, sliding further up his body.

Blankets rustled and pillows fell to the floor. "Mmm..."

"Yes..."

"Um, excuse me."

"Ack!" Marie tumbled off the bed onto the floor as Folken bolted into an upright position. Folken stared at the intruder, the girl who had traveled with Van, the one from the Mystic Moon, Hitomi. She stood in the doorway that Folken had left slightly ajar, stupid him, looking at him with wide green eyes.

Marie sat up, rubbing the back of her head and glaring. "Dammit Folken, you act like you're 16 and being caught by Mom and Dad! Nobody's even naked yet!"

Folken blinked and looked down at his exposed chest. He hastily began to button his shirt. "May I help you, young lady?"

The skinny girl looked from Folken to Marie nervously, before strengthening her resolve. She stood up straight and raised her chin slightly. "I want you to tell me how I can help stop Zaibach. I want to end the fighting, and something tells me you have what I need."

Folken frowned at the girl. Folken had something she needed?

Marie stood up, running her hands through her hair. "Yeah, he's got something I need too, but children around these parts are dead-set on keeping me from getting it." She looked at Hitomi pointedly and Hitomi stiffened.

"I–I'm sorry. I just–my pendant is resonating. It's being drawn to something in the castle that I can't find on my own, and I think you know what it is, Folken."

Marie turned to catch Folken's eye.

"Your pendant." Folken squinted at the necklace around the girl's neck. The jewel looked like a fragment of the stones powering Dornkirk's engines. Could it be a piece of the machine? The girl had the power to see the future and travel between worlds. Folken pushed himself off the bed and stood.

"Folken?" Marie asked as Folken walked toward the girl. "Where are you going?"

"To join Pearce in the lower chamber, I want to show Hitomi something."

Marie flopped back on the bed. "You want to show her that junk you salvaged from the Vione?"

"Junk?" Hitomi questioned.

"It's not junk," Folken said simply. 'It's Plan B.' "I'll be back later. Please, follow me, Hitomi."

---

Folken guided Hitomi to the end of the hall, away from the main stairwell and toward the servants' entrance. The stairway was narrow and dimly lit by oil lanterns that needed refueling. Folken would have to see to it. He hadn't been down this way since Dilandau's turn for the worst, and had been surprised to find out that Pearce hadn't been down either. Pearce had been picking up Folken's slack at Dryden's table and meeting with the generals privately amongst other things.

"Where are we going, Folken?"

Folken didn't turn his head to look at the girl on his heels. "To see if what's upsetting your pendant really has anything to do with me. There's a small basement that used to be a servants' quarters before the Astorian Living Quality Acts that I have been using as a storage facility."

"Storage facility?"

The stairway ended and Folken's boots crunched over the moist gravel of the floor. He removed the last lantern from its hook in the stone wall and held it up to light the way.

"There were some things from the floating fortress Vione that my associate and I salvaged from the crash. I took it as a sign that they weren't destroyed and thought them too invaluable to be left behind."

They stood in a small grotto facing a stone wall and four doors. Folken moved toward the second to last door on the right and knocked once before opening it.

"You don't keep the door locked?"

"No need. No one comes down here anymore. Dryden couldn't fathom why I wanted to, but when I told him, he sanctioned it and forbade anyone else entrance with little resistance."

Folken stepped into the medium sized room, nodding at Pearce who sat by a long table lining the far wall. A large communication device was on the table, wires twisting and disappearing into the floor and antennas pointing toward the ceiling, receiving transmissions from and relaying messages to all sides of the battle. Dallet had helped Folken and Pearce with the extra wiring enabling them to hack into Zaibach and allied networks. Once again, Folken was glad the Slayers were on their side. Gaea would have truly been in peril had the enemy still had those boys in their employ.

"Lord Folken, the fighting is steadily moving away from the capital city and several floating fortresses have been destroyed. Though, there have been heavy casualties in the ranks of our Cesarian allies, our reserves are looking quite healthy. However, it seems Adelphos is holding back for some reason, so he may have a hidden ace. The Zaibach troops aren't talking about it, but the Four Generals don't sound as worried as they should be given the situation."

Folken nodded. Zaibach would not be defeated this quickly or easily, no matter how well Folken had prepared the armies against it. He followed Pearce's analytical gaze to Hitomi behind him. "Come, Hitomi."

There was a larger room attached to the communications quarter. The door creaked as Folken had to use a little force to get it open.

"I'll oil it tomorrow," Pearce said dryly, his attention going back to the wire. Folken heard the low murmur of his voice as he spoke to someone on the field. Dilandau would love to be down here.

Folken flipped a switch and waited for the old hanging light to come on. It hummed for a moment before winking on and shining a dull light on a large machine that resembled two, titanic cones attached at their open ends and perched atop a sphere near the back of the room. Hitomi gasped.

"What is it?"

Folken moved aside so the girl could walk past him to the machine. "It's a satellite of Dornkirk's Fate Alteration Engine that I saved from the Vione."

Hitomi's little fingers covered her pendant. "I feel a pull to this device, Folken. This is what I need to get to Emperor Dornkirk. Can I use this machine to create a pillar of light? I must speak to the Emperor and get him to stop the fighting."

Folken's brows raised. Get him to stop the fighting? Did this girl honestly think her words could stop that man from going after what he wanted? Folken studied the slight teenager, noting the glint in her eyes.

She really did think she could fix things with naive words and a gentle heart. Realizing this made Folken feel so old. He could scarcely remember when he used to think his words could solve any problem, and that things would always go his way if he really wanted it to. Shaking his head, Folken sighed.

"I believe there is a way to get to the Emperor using this device. A wave in tune with the Emperor's Fate Alteration Engine should be able to direct a pillar to the location of the main device. I brought this machine here to use for that purpose, should things not go in our favor. If this happens, I will be the one to confront Dornkirk– " to do what needs to be done. Folken kept a sharp sword in its sheath beside the machine, ready for his trip.

Hitomi gasped, and Folken gazed at the girl. Her eyes were unfocused and her face was pale. She shook her head and looked at Folken, lips trembling. "You–you can't go see the Emperor. If you do– if you do you'll die."

Folken took a deep breath. The girl had proven herself as a psychic, so Folken had little doubt that she had seen a future thread displaying his death, but that was all it was. A thread. Years working for the Emperor told Folken not to trust Fate and Fortunes. Nothing was set in stone and futures viewed remotely were only things that could happen, and rarely ever did because people were fickle and changed their minds often.

"Hitomi, the future is subject to change. If I confront Dornkirk I may die and I may not; either way, it is my choice to make. That's something Dornkirk must learn as well. People make their own choices. There isn't a way to shape the future without actively taking a hand in it."

Hitomi bit her lip and looked off to the side of the machine at his sword. "You–you intend to kill him?"

"If I have to. The Emperor will not listen to words. He is beyond that. He was beyond that when he left his world, your world. He must be stopped at all cost."

Hitomi gulped. "I don't know if I could stand by and let you do that. There has to be a way to stop this without killing people."

She gazed at the machine, at his sword, at him, with hands clenched at her sides. "I'll figure out what it is, and I'll be back, Folken. Don't do anything without me here."

Folken was beginning to see why he thought Van had liked this girl. There was some fire to her, though she was a gentle breeze compared to Dilandau.

Before Folken could answer the girl, she was showing herself out of the room. Folken heard Pearce give her a monotone farewell, meaning she'd left the other chamber too. Well.

Folken stepped back into the larger room with Pearce.

"I've brought down some sandwiches and wine, if you'd like to stay here and listen. Dallet, Gatty, and Miguel will join us soon."

Folken opened his mouth to say he should probably get back to Marie. He had left at a very awkward time, but Pearce spoke before he could. Folken really needed to get his words out faster.

"Marie's not happy with you, and it may not be safe for you to go back upstairs yet."

Folken stared. "Wha–how do you..."

Pearce pointed at the small comm connected to the larger one in front of him. "She called me. Told me to tell you to stay your ass here. Her words, sir."

Folken ran a hand through his hair. A woman scorned indeed. He pulled up a chair beside Pearce, deciding he'd rather listen to war than Marie's latest rant. Maybe meeting with Dornkirk and impending death wasn't so bad compared to what he'd face in a few hours.

---

"... and then after I got Raul off Joss, I decided to hell with the rust buckets, you know? No way they're sending that stuff out there to represent Astoria, not unless they're trying to win by having Zaibach die of laughter. So, I was like, ok, what else can be done?"

Shesta lay on his bed with his arms tucked behind his head, listening to Viole as the other boy paced in front of his window. Viole had come in a little while ago, after being gone for hours, dressed in plain clothes and smelling of bath salts. Honestly, as much as Viole teased Miguel about his luxurious baths, Viole was no stranger to perfumed soaps either. It made Shesta wonder what nobles who weren't soldiers did all day. Bathe and try on silk?

"...so we went out into town. It's like no one out there could really believe the war might come inside the Palas Bubble, you know? Some people were boarding stuff up, but a few of the stores were still open and people were in there buying stuff like shoes and purses. These people see all these war toys and soldiers in armor and think we're going to costume parties or something."

"Or maybe they're just that confident that we'll win," Shesta said. "There's no reason for us not to." He sat up slowly and stretched his arms with a yawn. He was still a bit achy and a little tired, but for the most part, Shesta felt better than he had in days. He was sorry that he couldn't go see Lord Dilandau, and sorry that he'd gotten Viole sick, but he was grateful for the rest. His body needed it.

Dr. Marie said he had gotten sick, because he let himself get too run down. His body was making him have to rest. If anyone else got sick, then they desperately needed to rest too.

Viole stopped ranting and turned to face Shesta, weary dark, blue eyes large. "More than half of our cadets are out there, Shes."

Shesta sighed. "Fools."

"Dead fools," Viole said softly. "Lord Dilandau knew it would happen."

Shesta nodded. Of course he did. Shesta thought they all had. "You didn't anticipate this happening? Why else would Lord Dilandau agree to take on so many students, if he didn't think some of them would be leaving us? Astoria gets her soldiers either way, some for during the war, some for after."

Viole frowned. "I didn't understand why, but didn't ask. I guess I just don't automatically think that way."

No, Viole didn't automatically think that way.

Shesta set his stockinged feet on the floor, frowning at his mismatched socks– one

green, one blue with white stripes– then looked over at Viole. The dark-haired boy was pale and tense.

When they'd first met, Shesta had thought Viole was too soft to be a soldier. He let things bother him, like people he killed in battle, when others might not spend more than a moment thinking on it. But, Shesta learned over time that Viole was stronger than he seemed, so something such as disobedient cadets shouldn't bother him this much. There was something else.

"What's wrong, Vi?" Shesta rose, loose cotton pants sliding down to rest low on his hips. A long sleeved shirt stopped just below the top of the pants.

"It's Heather." Ah, the girlfriend. "The troupe moved out and I don't know which way they went. When we were in town, helping people board up windows and pack up, I asked around. She said they wanted to get away before the big war started, but Mrs. K from the Sweete Shoppe said the troupe left last night. That's not enough time for them to have gotten very far, Shes."

No, it wasn't. Shesta came to stand in front of Viole, resting his hands on Viole's narrow shoulders. "They waited too late to leave. They should have gone to one of the shelters in town."

Viole nodded. "Yeah. I–told her she could come here. There's all kinds of rooms, if she didn't want to–to stay with me. Because, I wouldn't ask her to sleep with me or anything if she didn't want to, and I didn't want her to feel pressured to, but she said no. And she didn't ask me to come with her, because she knew I'd say no. So we– we kinda broke up a little, but she said she'd write to me. And– and I can't even tell Miguel, because–"

Viole's eyes filled. Heather was Viole's first girlfriend. Shesta and the others, with the exception of Lord Dilandau, had all been with women before. Courting and holding hands was old business. Break-ups were common and letters went unanswered, but Shesta thought back to his first girlfriend and smiled, when it was new, it was beautiful. Shesta hugged Viole and the dark-haired boy lowered his head onto Shesta's shoulder.

"I want to go out after her, but– Lord Dilandau would... I don't want to worry him. He doesn't need that."

Shesta hummed his agreement, stroking Viole's hair and noting how warm his friend was.

"I just–want to talk to Lord Dilandau, to talk to Miguel. Miguel helped me come up with things to say to her and pick out gifts, and Lord Dilandau really likes listening to my stories. They met her. Miguel met her twice."

Shesta slowly guided Viole to his bed, pressing him to sit. Viole hunched over, wavy hair falling into his eyes. "I just don't want her to die, Shes. I had no idea she was still in town. I thought she'd left a week ago. If she had come to me and let me know she was still here, I wouldn't have let her go."

Shesta unlaced Viole's boots, then swung his friend's legs up onto the bed. Viole started, falling back onto Shesta's pillows. "Shes?"

"Yes, Viole?"

"What are you doing?"

"Putting you to bed," Shesta said. He unfolded the blanket at the foot of his bed and spread it over Viole. "You're exhausted and sick."

Shesta lay down on his side next to Viole, propping himself up with his elbow. "Look, I know you care for Heather, Viole. She's a nice girl, but she's got a whole group of people to take care of her. Those people she's with have been traveling a long time, and I'm sure they know how to take care of themselves. After this is all over, maybe you'll get a letter from her."

"But–"

"But what? What else can you do? You're not going after her. You're staying with your family and she's staying with hers. Trust them to take care of her, like we take care of each other."

Viole blinked and rubbed at his eyes. "I guess I can, Shes. I mean, I kinda have to. I just–don't like thinking about it, because I like her a lot."

"I understand." Shesta rolled onto his back. "There have been girls that I've cared a lot about too, and it's hard not knowing what happened to them sometimes."

Viole made a funny sound and Shesta turned his head to see the imp chuckling at him.

"What?"

"Geez, Shes, girls that you've cared about? Do we know about all these girls?"

Shesta flushed. "Not all of them. I don't kiss and tell like some people. I've had a few girlfriends. Most of them were before I met you guys though."

"Shesta, the secret lady's man," Viole tittered. "Maybe I should have asked you for pointers. Miguel's only had two girlfriends."

Shesta rolled his eyes. Viole was feeling better if he was teasing, but Shesta never liked being the object of his attention. "Good for Miguel. Now, what else was going on out there, before you left? You see any fighting?"

Viole shook his head. "No, but I heard it. There are a lot of big machines out there, Shes. It was creepy watching them all fly overhead. The officers want to push the fight as far away from Palas as they can get it, but Zaibach's pushing them back in. A lot of the people from the shops ended up following us back to the castle to wait inside the walls instead of going to the shelters. I think they're overcrowded. Oi–what's this? You've got books in your bed, Shes. Miss Agatha Finch's Illegitimate Incident?"

Shesta snatched the pink book away from Viole before he could open it. "It's not mine."

"Then why's it in your bed?" Viole asked, shifting around and making himself comfortable. Shesta hoped there were no more books to be uncovered. He thought he had returned them all. Well, all except for the one he held. He was still reading it. He wanted to know if Agatha's baby would turn out to be the Duke of Earls'. That would certainly make the King of Hearts pretty mad. Shesta was rooting for the Duke though. Poor guy was a misunderstood loner and an orphaned widower to boot.

"Marie left it." Shesta put the book on his night stand for later.

Viole gave him a funny look, then frowned again. "Found something else. Oh-la-la, what's this? A letter from one of your many girls?"

Shesta reached to take the folded sheet of paper from Viole, but the other boy held it just out of his reach. "Let's see, to my dearest Shesta..." Viole began in a falsetto voice, then he stopped and blinked. "This is from Lord Dilandau. Eat shit and die?"

Shesta chuckled. "We've been passing notes with Guimel as a delivery boy."

"What did you say to make him write this?" Viole asked.

"I just asked him how he liked his kiss."

"His what?"

"Van kissed him."

Viole rolled until he was nearly on top of Shesta, staring down at him. "No way!"

"Van kissed him twice."

"And what did Lord Dilandau do?"

Shesta chuckled. "Wouldn't you like to know."

"Shesta!"

Shesta felt particularly evil at that moment. "Well, I remember admiring a belt you own. I wouldn't mind adding it to my collection, if you'd be generous enough to–"

"Shesta!" Viole gripped his collar, face incredulous and Shesta laughed.

"Lord Dilandau hasn't really said anything about it yet. He's still trying to figure out what he thinks about it. Guimel says he's been walking around with a silly little smile on his face though, so our guess is that the odds are in Van's favor."

"Yes!" Viole cheered, then coughed, hard. "Ow."

Shesta winced in empathy. "Sorry about that."

Viol glared at him. "I've been meaning to thank you for this, asshole." Viole rolled off him and settled against the pillows again. "So, Lord Dilandau and you are passing notes, huh?"

"Yeah. You should join in. You know he'd love to hear from you."

"Yeah," Viole said and was silent for a moment. Shesta sat up to look at him.

"What is it?"

"If I wrote Lord Dilandau a note, do you think it would be a bad idea for me to mention that the generals stole our Silvers and are using them in battle?"

"They stole WHAT?"

The bed trembled and things on Shesta's dressers and table rattled as a bright light flashed through the window, making everything in the room look white for an instant. Shesta jumped out of bed and ran to the window to peer out. "What the hell was that?"

There was an ungraceful thud and Viole staggered to the window with Shesta's comforter wrapped around one of his legs. "Holy shit, you think that was one of Zaibach's floating mines?"

Shesta shook his head. "I hope not." The floating weapons were used to stop airships, but sometimes their engines were cut and they fell on enemy cities and military camps.

"Shesta, should we wait here to find out, or should we go..."

Shesta was already moving to his closet to get his boots. There was no way in hell he was going to sit in here not knowing what was going on. Did the city need to be evacuated; did the troops need more firepower? Shesta could help. He ran for the door, not waiting for Viole to finish struggling out of the blanket and put his boots back on.

The door to Lord Dilandau's room slammed open and Guimel bolted out. Shesta nearly rammed into him. "Did you feel that?"

"I saw it!"

"I think it was a floating mine!" Viole joined them. "What do we do?"

Marie stepped into the hall, looking fresh from a shower. The back of her shirt was damp where her hair lay against it. She glanced at them briefly, then turned and ran for the back stairwell, probably going to that cellar Folken and Pearce haunted full of dust, old Zaibach machines, and– the communication systems linked to all of the ally melefs.

Guimel and Viole pushed past Shesta, running after Marie, and Shesta followed, albeit more slowly. He kept looking over his shoulder. There was something they were forgetting, but he didn't have time to remember what it was now. The castle might fall down around his ears before his brain came back from vacation. He'd figure it out later.

"Hey, slow down on the stairs you two, and wait for me!"

---

Dilandau told himself he would wait for five minutes, and if no one came back to tell him what the hell was going on, he was leaving. He waited for three, at two minutes he was dragging his pole to the closet to get his robe. He shouldn't have taken the thing off.

Damn. Damn. Damn! Every time a wheel snagged in the carpet Dilandau growled. Screw this. He unhooked the bag of fluid from the pole and carried it with him. If he didn't think he'd rip a hole in his chest, he would have pulled the IV out altogether. Marie purposefully didn't show him how to unhook himself. Red Witch.

He pulled on his robe and dropped the bag of medicine into the large pocket. Dilandau would thank Dallet again for his gifts, or had Guimel given him the robe? He walked to the dividing curtain, his hand pausing before he threw it open. He shouldn't do this. Marie and Folken told him how dangerous it was for him to leave his room right now. He couldn't afford to get sick, but he also couldn't afford to have Zaibach win this war with dirty tricks either, not with his family on the field.

He stepped through the curtain and stopped at the table inside the door, staring at the sealed containers of gloves, masks, and smocks. Dilandau took a mask and a pair of gloves, fumbling to put them on as he left the room. He stood in the hallway, frowning at how long it seemed to him. The others were probably down in Folken's dungeon, listening to the war. Dilandau's muscles shook with fatigue. Maybe he could make it down the hall, but how would he get down the stairs?

The hairs on the back of his neck prickled, alerting him that someone was nearing him. Sharp ears heard small feet crossing the carpet in soft shoes, and Dilandau turned slightly to see who his company was. The girl from the Mystic Moon marched down the hall with a determined look on her face. She slowed and stopped when she reached Dilandau.

"Hi." She stared at him, eyes lingering on his mask and the skinny tube poking through his pajama top that trailed off into his pocket. "You– are you going to see Folken?"

Dilandau scowled and reached up to pull off the mask, tugging it down around his neck. His breath was hot and he was starting to feel claustrophobic behind the cloth. How could the others stand to wear them? "Are you really familiar enough with Folken to refer to him in such an informal way, girl?"

She blinked, color rising to her cheeks. "He's never objected to it before!" Placing her hands on her hips, the girl turned on a heel, meaning to walk away from him, but Dilandau caught her arm.

She was headed toward the back stairwell. How did this girl know where Folken probably was, and why? "Hey, there's a war going on and Folken's too busy to talk to you. Go back where you came from."

The girl snatched her arm out of his hold and Dilandau growled. "He's not too busy to talk to me! I want the fighting to stop before anymore people get hurt. He told me he could get to the Emperor."

Dilandau felt hot and cold at the same time, and his shaky knees chose that time to fold. He stumbled, catching the wall to support himself.

"Oh my God, are you ok?" The anger was gone from the girl's voice as she took one of his arms. "Here, sit down."

Dilandau didn't want to sit, but he couldn't fight the hands guiding him to the floor. Folken wanted to confront Dornkirk alone? No, surely not alone. He'd take Pearce and Dilandau, or someone Dilandau chose if Dilandau couldn't go. Folken wasn't a solider. Did the man even know how to hold a sword? Folken would get hurt, Folken might...

"Hey, put your head between your knees. That always helps me when I feel faint."

"Folken said he was going to Dornkirk?" Dilandau didn't do as the girl's hands pressed him to do. He looked up at her through his bangs. "How?" Dornkirk was thousands of miles away, floating hundreds of feet in the air, lording over the skies of Zaibach. The girl spoke as if Folken could open a doorway right onto his leviship. And hell, maybe he could. Enough weird things happened around here for Dilandau to believe anything was possible. That was why his stomach churned at the girl's words.

"He's going to use the machine he saved from– "

"The Vione." Dilandau didn't know that piece of junk worked. It sat dead and collecting dust in the back room of Folken's layer. Dilandau thought Folken was going to let Dallet scrap it for parts.

"I'm going to use it instead of him. I'm going to the Emperor." The girl's jaw was set. "I think–I feel that I'm the only one who can fix this."

Dilandau wanted to snort. Just who was this girl again? Were all aliens from the Mystic Moon insane? What did she think she could say to Dornkirk that someone else hadn't already and what made her think Dornkirk would listen? Dilandau's eyes settled upon the jeweled pendant she wore around her neck and memories of hunting the Escaflowne came back to him. He saw the white dragon with Van piloting and the girl riding on its shoulder, pointing out where Dilandau and his Slayers stood invisible in the woods. Van and this girl did scary things together.

She had power.

"You should go back to your room. You're not well, and–and Van's worried about you. Don't make it worse by making yourself worse. He–he really cares about you, you know? He's been... ignoring me lately, so he can be around you. I– "

Dilandau's brows rose. The girl's eyes watered as she spoke of Van and she looked away from him for a moment. Was she upset because Van cared about him? Why would she– unless she...

"Oh God, I think... No, no it can't be that." She met his eyes again with a smile. "It's great that you two can put the past behind you and become such good friends. If you can do it, anyone can. You're an example of why this war can be won without fighting."

Dilandau blinked, not following her jump from one conclusion to another without ever stating a hypothesis. How could Van or Allen stand her? Wait–wasn't she with Allen? He remembered the first night he'd seen her. Allen had said she was his lover.

"I'll get someone for you. You look like you're going to throw up."

The girl made to rise and Dilandau grabbed her arm again. Now was not the time for Dilandau to have a Dallet moment. "You're going to Folken?"

The strange girl nodded. "But after I help you."

"You can help me by taking me with you." Dilandau swallowed all pride and dignity as he stretched his hands out for the girl to pull him to his feet. He staggered a bit, righting himself quickly without her help. "I'm ok now, but I don't think I can– " he sighed, "–make it down the stairs by myself."

The girl looked uncertain. "I don't know. I don't think I should. You should be in bed."

"And you should be on the Mystic Moon, but we're both here, and we both have jobs to do. You wanna talk to the Emperor; I wanna talk to Folken. Our goal is downstairs."

With that, Dilandau proceeded to walk down the hall, his pace slow but unwavering. After a few steps, the girl was at his side. "When we get to the stairs, put your arm around my neck and I'll grab you around the waist."

"All right."

---

"Now we're losing the signal from Basram! Are you sure you know what you're doing, Dallet?" Miguel's voice was shriller than Gatty had ever heard it.

"Yes, I know what I'm doing Miguel! All that hot air you're blowing is making me lose the damn signal, so shut up!" Dallet snapped.

Gatty knelt beside Dallet, who was half under the table the communications device sat on, fiddling with wires. Dallet's rear end wiggled as he grunted and shifted positions. "Pearce, move antenna J, two centimeters to the left," Dallet said.

"You've already had him do that and we ended up with static!"

"Miguel, sit down!" Shesta stood at the end of the table by antennas dubbed H and Q, ready to move them at Dallet's say so. Viole stood at A and Guimel at V, and Marie hovered near Folken shooting random questions at him.

The peaceful storage room had become a war zone in a matter of minutes. One second Gatty, Miguel and Dallet were sharing drinks with Lord Folken and Pearce, talking about women and manhood and cheering for their side of the war, the next there was radio silence, then a lot of yelling and screaming. Dr. Marie, Guimel, Shesta and Viole had run in next, ranting about flashes of light and rattling foundations.

"Clear channel," Pearce said and Gatty got to his feet to join the crowd growing around Pearce.

"... a bomb from Basram. They weren't just aiming to take out Zaibach. This is a declaration of war on everyone."

"This is our chance to bring glory to Basram! Astoria will no longer be the center of power."

"The alliance is broken!"

"This isn't a war, it's a massacre. Who are we fighting? Who are we..."

"Waiting for orders to retreat, there can be no winners here."

"They're monsters, worse than Zaibach ever was. You won't win..."

Gatty's eyes were wide as he gazed at his companions. The only sound in the room was the hiss of the speakers, the panicked voices of terrified and crazed soldiers looking to kill for power, and heavy breathing.

"Folken, you planned for everything, right? You planned for this?" Dr. Marie's voice was so soft, Gatty almost didn't recognize it. He'd never heard her sound scared.

Lord Folken's face was pale, his lips a straight line. "I..."

"Did you?" Dr. Marie asked. Gatty leaned in. Why wasn't Lord Folken answering and saying that he had planned all of this in a self-assured tone? This whole war had been worked out. They didn't have anything to worry about. That was why they were in here relaxing instead of smoking the battlefield. Had they been mistaken? Had Lord Folken miscalculated?

"Lord Folken, should we mobilize? I can–" Gatty began, but Lord Folken held out a hand to silence him.

"I didn't plan for the Allies to turn against each other. The war I prepared for was against Zaibach, not ourselves."

"Zaibach is defeated," Pearce said. "Adelphos is retreating; two of the Four Armies won't respond."

"Zaibach is not defeated so long as the Emperor lives," Lord Folken said solemnly. He turned and began walking toward the smaller room. "Dornkirk will make his move now."

"What move? What are you talking about?" Dr. Marie asked.

"Lord Folken, what can the Emperor do without an army? He can't fight himself," Shesta said. "Shouldn't we be trying to see what we can do to stop the Allies from destroying each other?"

"What the hell can we do to stop them from ripping each other apart?" Guimel asked. "Even if we were out there, we would have been lucky not to be taken out by that damn bomb! We'd have to take a side and fight for it or be attacked on all sides. Face it, we're pawns again. First, we were pawns for Zaibach, now we're pawns for Astoria. We came here to get rid of Zaibach and then be free men. Now what?"

"We should secure the palace. We need to protect the King and Princesses and Dryden. We could try to barricade the capitol until they're safely evacuated."

"And be like Freid, cowards that desert their homes?" Miguel asked, lip curled in disgust. "I won't do that. We've moved so many times this year, and now we've finally settled down somewhere. We should fight."

"We would fight if we could win, Miguel. The odds are not in our favor. General Alloju's giving a status report. A sixth of the Astorian army was destroyed in the explosion, another sixth was lost in battle. That's a third of the army gone. If the war comes this way..." Gatty trailed off. If the war came their way, they'd either have to run or be killed. But–but maybe that was their Fate. Gatty thought back to that day on the Vione when they'd made the choice to save Lord Dilandau, to be the String that survived to protect him. They could have easily been one of the teams that stayed behind and died. They could have easily been overpowered before they'd escaped. Perhaps Fate was catching up with them and they were all living on borrowed time after all Maybe Miguel was right. They'd run the last time and this time they should stay and fight.

"What do we do, Lord Folken? You said you didn't plan for the Allies to turn against each other, but you think Dornkirk will make his move because of it. What do you have to use against the Emperor?" Gatty asked.

"Me."

A girl's voice carried across the grungy room and Gatty turned to see the girl from the Mystic Moon entering the room, supporting Lord Dilandau.

"Gods-dammit Dilandau!" Dr. Marie shouted.

"Oh my gods, that's what we forgot!" Shesta ran a hand through his hair.

"Stupid brat! I told you not to leave your room." Dr. Marie stalked to Lord Dilandau, ripping him away from the Mystic Moon witch and pulling him toward herself. "Where's your IV? Your pocket? You little– well, you've got on gloves at least." She fumbled with something at his neck, a mask, and pulled it up over his face. "Why didn't you have it on?"

"It was suffocating me." Lord Dilandau's voice was muffled, he reached up and tugged the mask off again. "What does it matter now? I've breathed the air; I've been exposed. I don't care about germs, if we're all going to be blown to bits soon. What the hell is going on?"

"Basram dropped a bomb–on everyone. The Allies have declared war on each other. It's chaos. People are just out fighting to be fighting, and Lord Folken's got some awesome hidden plan to fix all this and isn't telling." Dallet folded his arms over his chest.

"Folken!" Lord Dilandau glared at the ex-Strategos, who was coming toward him.

"Dilandau, you should go back to your room. What needs to be done here, I will do."

"No, I'll do it!" The girl was moving closer to the group. "You said you could get me to Emperor and the time is now. I feel like I have to go now."

Go to the Emperor? They were talking about doing that like Dornkirk was in the next room.

"Hello, Gaea to fruitcakes. Lord Folken, please don't tell us that your great plan is to bundle up and fly to Zaibach to have tea with the Emperor." Guimel looked ready to draw a sword from the sky to slice Folken in half with, if he said another word.

"Folken's got a machine that'll take him to Dornkirk," Lord Dilandau said flatly. Lord Folken blinked, seeming shocked by Lord Dilandau's words, then understanding filtered into his gaze.

"Hitomi told you."

"She thinks she can talk to Dumbshit and have him stop all this. She says you think you're going in alone to talk to him. I think you want to go in alone to kill him, and I think you're both too damn idealistic."

Gatty's head jerked from Lord Dilandau, to Lord Folken, to the girl. "What the hell are you all talking about?"

"It doesn't matter if you understand," Lord Folken said.

"It does matter Lord Folken, because I've heard all I've needed to hear to know I'm going with you. It would be nice to be told what I'm getting into." Pearce stood up straight, stretching like a cat and pushing through the crowd gathering around Lord Folken, Lord Dilandau and the girl, Hitomi, to stand by Lord Folken.

"It has to do with the machine in the next room, doesn't it?" Dallet asked. "You told me it didn't work, but it does. What's it do?"

Lord Folken was shaking his head. "Pearce, you are not coming with me. No one is, and I'm telling you it..."

"That machine is connected to the Emperor's. Can it create portals of some sort and allow you to travel great distances?" Pearce pressed.

"What good is killing the damn Emperor going to do? The war against Zaibach is over; the people are killing each other just to be killing. This whole talk is shit."

"It's not shit, Guimel," Lord Dilandau said. Gatty frowned; Lord Dilandau was sweating. "It may not make sense to you, to anyone who doesn't know, who hasn't felt the real power fueling Zaibach. The Madoushi, the Emperor, the faces of Zaibach, all play with Fate. They have technology that allow them to alter people and their choices. They can give life and take it away with a button, a syringe. They can turn people into monsters, grant wishes, separate souls from bodies."

"Dilandau?" Lord Folken put an arm around Lord Dilandau's shoulders and pulled him closer. "You shaking. You need– "

"To be here," Lord Dilandau said. "I have to tell them who and what we're fighting. They don't know. They never knew."

"Now's not the time."

"Then when is? When we're all dead. When the Emperor's captured everyone to use in his experiments?"

"Dil–"

"The Emperor's a monster with the power of the gods in his hands. He's got a machine tens times bigger than Folken's hunk of junk on his airship that he's going to use to change everything. Am I right, Folken? Is he going to change the world to how he feels it should be with that machine?"

Lord Folken looked shocked again, and this time the shock didn't fade. Lord Dilandau chuckled. "You underestimate me, Folken. You always have."

Gatty tried so hard to understand. He was still missing big pieces of the puzzle, but the half picture he could create with the parts he had wasn't pretty. So, Dornkirk had some machine he was going to use to rule the world, or mold it rather. The machine was the driving force behind Zaibach, its main engine, and Folken had a way to get to it?

If Lord Folken had this resource, why were they here fighting for Astoria? Why had they sent an army out to be killed? Lord Folken could have ended it all a long time ago; they could have ended it.

"Lord Folken, why have you just been sitting on this? Why didn't you tell us? We could have finished this a long time ago," Shesta said. "People–civilians–were hurt, are going to get hurt. Soldiers, friends, have died, are dying."

"You don't understand..."

"Then help us understand. Tell us we haven't wasted our time." Shesta wrung his hands together.

"Going to Dornkirk was always the last resort. The man did not randomly found a nation. He is a genius from another time, another world, who wants to unlock the secrets of a lost civilization. The Emperor is not out to conquer, just to be part of a great change. He is a man of science who wants to see a theory proved true. A move against him must come at the right time, at the right moment. He's been planning this war for centuries."

Gatty gasped. Centuries? He knew the Emperor was ancient, but that was impossible.

"Using science and magic, Dornkirk guided us all here. He's found all the keys he needs to unlock the doors of Atlantis. A move made too soon, Dornkirk will see and thwart and the actions we all take may bring about the destruction of this world."

"In other words, moving against Dumbshit is a risk better not taken, but since we've got assholes blowing each other up, we've got no choice. For all we know, Dumbshit had a hand in the chaos. Maybe this was his plan, not for Zaibach to win, but for all hell to break loose. It's a perfect distraction. We, the people who sort of know what's going on and what he might be doing, are sitting here arguing instead of going after him." Lord Dilandau gulped and reached out to catch Lord Folken's arm.

Lord Folken rubbed his back. "You wouldn't be so nauseous, if you'd stay put."

"I'd stay put, if people would keep me informed. Somebody get me a chair." Gatty was already looking around for a nearby chair, before Lord Dilandau finished his request. Guimel dragged over a wooden chair with a blue, velvet cushion on its seat. Gatty didn't know some of the seats in the room had cushions. He'd killed his ass in the chair he was sitting in for half an hour.

Lord Dilandau sat down, placing a hand over his mouth for a moment. Guimel massaged the back of Lord Dilandau's neck with a hand, frowning down at him.

"So, when is this move to be made, Lord Folken, and what do you need; who do you need?" Shesta asked. "Pearce says he's going with you, this girl says she's going with you, will you be needing us as well?"

Lord Folken stammered. "I–I told you all how dangerous this is. I won't involve anyone else in–"

"You're talking like you expect anyone who goes to die, Folken," Lord Dilandau said.

Hitomi squeaked. Lord Folken's face was blank.

"Folken?" Lord Dilandau looked up at the man.

"Folken?" Dr. Marie asked.

"Nothing's predetermined, but there is a chance that I may die in the encounter. My life would be the exchange for– "

"The hell it will!" Dr. Marie shouted. "How do you know this? The machine alters Fate right? Does it also show you possible futures? Did you see your death?"

"I saw his death." Hitomi held the jewel of her necklace. "I had a vision of Folken facing the Emperor alone. It ended with him face down in a pool of his own blood."

Gatty shuddered. Soldiers told Gatty this girl was a witch, and he had proof from his dragon hunting days that Hitomi had power, but never before had he looked it in the face. This girl could see invisible guymelefs and the future. No wonder Van and Sir Allen kept her close. She was an asset.

"Then you can't go," Dr. Marie said. "You'll stay here and Pearce and the girl will go."

"I have to face Dornkirk, Marie."

"Why does it have to be you?" Dr. Marie moved so fast, Gatty would have missed it if he'd blinked. She was in Lord Folken's face, shoving him backward as she screamed at him. "Why do you have to take everything into your own hands? Everything isn't your damn fault and you don't have to fix it! You're talking about killing a man. Can you kill a man? For gods' sake, let Pearce go."

"Pearce alone couldn't cause the reaction needed to create the beacon of light that would take him to Dornkirk. It has to be me."

"Can't the girl create these beacons of light too? Isn't that how she got here?"

"How did you– ?"

"I'm not deaf, Folken. The girl will take Pearce..."

"She's not enough," Lord Folken said firmly.

"She'll have to be..."

There was a sharp whistle. "Marie, Folken, heel!" Lord Dilandau said. Both scientists gaped at Lord Dilandau as if he'd stripped naked and started doing acrobatics. "Hitomi said the vision showed Folken dying while facing the Emperor alone. She hasn't said anything about a vision of him dying while accompanied by other people. If Folken feels he has to go or it won't work, let him go, but the girl, Pearce, and... and Gatty and Dallet will go with him."

Gatty nearly fell over. Him? Lord Dilandau was volunteering him to have his molecules dispersed over thousands of miles to meet with an old man that should by all means be dead? If Lord Dilandau felt Gatty was brave enough to take on such a challenge, Gatty was honored, but– but no buts. He stopped his knees from quaking and stilled the tremor in his hands. He was Lord Dilandau's right hand; he represented Lord Dilandau when Lord Dilandau could not be present. He was stronger than he was acting right now.

"How does it work?" Dallet asked. He was the only one who hadn't clustered in to join the huddle around Lord Dilandau, Lord Folken and Hitomi. He sat on the table with the communication devices. "From the sound of things, we need to figure this out soon."

Lord Folken clenched and unclenched the fingers of his metal hand. His brow wrinkled and the corners of his mouth twitched. Was he angry? "You don't know what you're getting yourselves into."

"Neither do you," Lord Dilandau said flatly, "and in my experience, it's better to go into blind situations with as much back up as can be spared. I can't go with you Folken, and neither can Miguel, Viole, Shesta, or Marie. Guimel..."

"I'm staying with you. If anything happens, I have to be here. Vi and Shes are sick, and Miguel's hurt," Guimel said.

"They'll have to be enough. Folken, you really believe you can stop this man, or you wouldn't be so dead set about going. Hitomi believes she can stop this man. You two have powers I won't try to understand, but I trust you Folken, and I trust Pearce, Gatty and Dallet. If there's anything you can do, it'll be done and they'll bring you back in one piece."

Gatty grinned at Lord Dilandau's confidence in him. Hell, it made him believe he could stop the Emperor too, and he would.

All eyes were on Lord Folken, waiting for him to relent and tell them his awesome plan of flying to the Emperor and inviting themselves in for tea. Lord Dilandau raised a brow, and Dr. Marie pinched Lord Folken, squeezing until he yelped.

"Fine! Fine! Come, and pay attention, because I will only explain this once."

---

Folken felt very self conscious. He wasn't quite sure how to actually activate the machine, but he had a gut feeling that it would work if he wanted it to. He just had to focus his desire, his wish, to see Dornkirk and settle things between them. They stood in a circle near the machine, Folken, Pearce, Dallet and Gatty with Hitomi in the center as the point. The girl would guide their thoughts and mold their various wants into one with a single destination in mind.

Marie stood with her hands at her sides, patting her thighs. Her eyes told Folken how angry she was at him, but her hands told him that she wanted to come with him. Dilandau was next to Marie, slightly leaning on Guimel and Miguel. He nodded at Folken, when he caught his eyes and traded grins with Gatty and Dallet. Shesta and Viole stood apart from the group, Viole waving at them and Shesta looking anxious.

"Clear your minds everyone, and concentrate on the Emperor. Picture him in your minds and nothing else. We need to see the Emperor; we need to stop the war. We need to save the ones we love that are out on the battlegrounds right now. Clear your minds, and think of peace."

Folken gazed at Hitomi. The girl's eyes were closed as she stretched her hands out on either side of her. Dallet and Gatty each grabbed one of her hands and Dallet extended a hand to Folken. Folken took Dallet's hand and then Pearce's. He shut his eyes like Hitomi's and thought of Dornkirk's throne room. He could almost see the old man strapped into his mountain-like machine, peering through his scope at the futures he wanted to create. The futures Folken no longer wanted any part of.

Folken's body felt heavy and cold, as if someone had shoved him into a lake in the dead of winter and held him under water. He didn't dare open his eyes. He was flying, falling, then once again standing on solid ground.

"Dallet!" Folken heard Gatty call. Folken opened his eyes. The storage quarters was gone, replaced by a large circular room with dark walls and a glass roof. Folken's hand was still in Pearce's but Dallet's hand was missing. He looked down to see the boy sprawled on the round platform they stood on, mouthing 'holy shit.' Dallet's brown eyes were focused on a point well over Folken's head.

"You are here."

Folken's shoulders tensed and Pearce's hand slid out of his. Folken turned, lifting his head to take his first look at the Emperor in many months. The man's body was lost in a sea of cords and wires, but his blue eyes, sunken into a white face lined with age, were sound and sharp. His voice was clear, cultured and amplified by the acoustics of the room.

"So, all of the pieces I need have finally come to me."

"Is he talking to us?"

"Shut up, Dallet."

"The time has come to use the full power of the Fate Alteration Engine. All is proceeding according to my will."

Folken's heart was in his throat. "Your will?" Oh no, had they played themselves into Dornkirk's hands? This was what he was afraid of. His hands shook as he felt for the sword he'd strapped on moments earlier. The sword that Dilandau had rolled his eyes at. 'If you needed a sword, Folken, you should have asked for mine.'

What good is your sword without your skill, Dilandau? Folken had wanted to ask. He could use a sword, but Folken knew that he hadn't shown the same prowess when he was Van's age that Van did now, and he hadn't touched a sword since then.

"Yes, my will. I guided Fate so that you would bring the girl from the Mystic Moon to me."

Folken sucked in a breath, ignoring the worried chorus of murmurs around him. "Just how long do you plan to toy with Fate?" There was a fine tremor in his voice that he hoped no one heard.

Dornkirk looked down on Folken from his manmade Olympus. "A foolish question. You should know my true intentions."

"Then you should know what I'm determined to do." Folken's voice rose. Pearce moved closer to him.

"Lord Folken?"

"You've come to kill me, correct?" Dornkirk said. Folken heard the smirk in his voice. Was he mocking Folken? Did he think Folken couldn't kill him?

"Ah, shit. Is it too late to get out of here?"

"Dallet!"

"Come, Folken. Kill me."

Folken pulled the blade from its sheath, cringing at the sound of steel scraping across leather. The blade was long and clean, but Folken held it awkwardly.

"Lord Folken."

There was a loud hiss as metal folded away from Dornkirk's body, thick white steam cloaking the man's body, revealing nothing but a scrawny shadow. The smoke shifted from Dornkirk, misting down toward Folken and the others. Dornkirk rose from his throne, pale body naked to his waist and emaciated. His thick, white mane touched his feet and a straight beard fell to his knees.

"Aw gross."

"Dallet!"

Dornkirk spread his arms wide. "Come, Folken." He tossed his head back and laughed. Folken's eyes narrowed. Was Dornkirk laughing at him, baiting him? Probably, and Folken really shouldn't rise to it, but a chord in that laughter rubbed Folken's nerves raw. He wanted it to stop.

Folken pulled his shirt over his head with one arm, throwing it to the side and releasing his wings. White feathers fluttered to the ground. White? They'd returned to their normal color? When?

"Lord Folken!"

"What the hell..."

Folken started toward Dornkirk's Mountain at a run and flapped his wings. His feet left the ground, another flap took him higher. He used the steam from the machine as a thermal wind. Heat made things rise faster.

"Folken, no! The vision!" Hitomi screamed after him.

The vision of his death. Folken didn't want to die, but if his death meant Dornkirk's as well, so be it. I'm sorry Marie. I'm sorry Dilandau. I'm sorry Van... but I have to do this. Suddenly a large mass of flesh was hurtling toward him. "Lord Folken!"

Pearce? Folken didn't think; he dropped the sword to catch Pearce, before gravity had its way. They were probably about 15 feet from the ground and any landing Pearce could have had would not have been graceful. Folken dipped, struggling to adjust to Pearce's added weight. "Pearce, you fool!"

Folken's gaze was wild as he saw the ledge Pearce must have climbed to and leapt from to intercept Folken. Folken wanted to set Pearce down.

"Keep going."

Folken's breath caught in his throat. "Wha..."

"Take me to the Emperor. I'll tell you when to let go."

Folken gritted his teeth. Pearce emanated calmness and precision. He didn't say another word to Folken, and Folken didn't feel inclined to argue. Pearce had made his decision, and perhaps it was one Dornkirk hadn't predicted.

They neared Dornkirk. The man still stood with his arms thrown out wide, like he was waiting for Folken, a prodigal son returned, to give him a hug. "Now, Lord Folken."

Folken released Pearce, swinging him forward to give him a running start on the few feet left to Dornkirk's peak. Great relief flooded through his arms when Pearce's weight disappeared and he flew higher, over Dornkirk's head looking down as Pearce hopped onto the Emperor's platform. Dornkirk's eyes widened briefly before returning to their normal state. So, he didn't expect Pearce's coming. Pearce drew a sword from his belt and, in one blow, decapitated Dornkirk. Dornkirk's severed head rolled from his neck and splattered onto the floor. Long white hair coiled around the head like serpents and the body fell forward with a wet thwack.

Pearce cleaned his blade on the Emperor's robes and sheathed it. Folken drifted down and landed behind Dornkirk's chair, staring at the mess. He was dead. Dornkirk was dead. "It's over."

Pearce nudged Dornkirk's remains with his boot. "It looks that way."

More steam rose from the machine and lights began to flash. Folken took a cautious step back. The Fate Alteration Engine...had it been activated by Dornkirk's death? Had they played into his hands again?

"Lord Folken, what's happening?" Gatty's voice echoed from below. He sounded unnerved. Was he just reacting to what Pearce and Folken had done or was something going on down there?

"We've got a light show down here! I think someone just turned the machine on!" Dallet.

"Lord Folken."

Folken looked to Pearce, understanding passing between the both of them. Folken caught Pearce under the arms and took a breath, readying himself for flight. Hold on, we're coming... but to do what?

Folken didn't have a Plan C.

---

Dallet stared at the large machine in front of him. Currents of blue energy sparked from a ball of dark metal about the size of a card table, through a rotating band of metal that seemed to hover above it into a larger sphere. Dallet's right hand clutched the pommel of his sword, though he didn't know what the hell a sword could do against an explosion. The thing was probably overloading. They needed to get out of here. Yesterday. "Hey, Hit–"

"It has begun."

A man-sized orb of light shimmered next to the Mystic Moon Witch, and Dallet's words caught in his throat. What now? Hitomi looked ready to leap into Dallet's arms and scream "Save me, fair prince." So, he figured it wasn't her doing. Gatty looked ready to shit his pants, but he'd looked like that earlier too, so Dallet didn't think it was him either. Lord Dilandau was going to owe Dallet big for volunteering him for this.

The lights faded, leaving a man with a cascade of white hair down his back and a dark cloak in its place. The man turned to face them and Dallet bit his lip on a giggle. The man was tall, and paler than Lord Dilandau, with long, gnarled fingers, hollow blue eyes, and a beard longer than the hair on Schezar's head, but that–that wasn't what was funny.

Dallet choked in a yelp as Gatty kicked his foot. "Stop it."

"Who are you?" Hitomi asked the man, and Dallet couldn't understand how she was speaking to a man with– he had to turn away– pin curls, wearing such a straight face. Tears rolled down his cheeks. The curls only sprouted from certain locations in his hair and beard, making Dallet wonder if they were freaks of nature or intentional. Did the man sleep in rollers, pins, or wake up to use a hot iron in the morning?

"Watch with me, young lady. Watch the Zone of Absolute Fortune," the man spoke. His voice was familiar.

"You're..." Hitomi frowned.

The Emperor, Dallet finished. The man looked...different...clothed. It was hard to notice Dornkirk's interesting hairstyle when Dallet was trying not to vomit at Dornkirk's unsightly body.

"The Zone of Absolute Fortune?" Hitomi asked.

"Yes. The alteration of fate brought about by the ultimate activation of the Fate Alteration Engine. It will grant everyone their wishes, creating perfect happiness."

Dallet frowned. It would grant everyone's wishes? Even his? He turned around again, focusing on Hitomi rather than Dornkirk. If he looked at her, he might not think about the curls and have to turn around again. He felt Gatty brush against his shoulder and he glanced over at his comrade. Gatty was pale in the blue light of the machine and his eyes glittered when they met Dallet's. Gatty didn't seem to like where this talk was headed.

Dallet's hand rested on the pommel of his sword again.

"The true value of the Atlantis Machine is now being put to test."

The Atlantis Machine? Could he sound less like one of those weird books Lord Dilandau read? But then again, it wasn't like Fate Alteration Engine was much better.

"You're joking," Hitomi said.

If the Emperor was joking, he certainly looked like a clown, but he wasn't. No one let themselves be seen and killed butt-naked in front of an audience for the sake of a bad joke. That was some kind of sacrifice.

"Granting everyone their wishes is what destroyed Atlantis!" Hitomi said.

Gatty let out a breath and Dallet's hand tightened on his sword handle. Gatty was right, this chat was headed no where good...but what could they do to stop it? Pearce had lopped off this guy's head and he was still running at the mouth about Fate.

Wait.

Dallet took a step back with a gulp. This man sacrificed himself; Dallet saw his head fall from his neck, yet he was here. He was...a ghost. They were standing around listening to a freakin' ghost!

'Lord Dilandau, you're so lucky I like you.'

"The–the allies are still fighting each other!" Hitomi said after a few moments of silence. The girl and the ghost were looking at the glowing machine as if watching a play. Was the girl having a vision and sharing it with her undead acquaintance? If those two were having a moment, Dallet would gladly take Gatty and leave. Lord Folken could get them out of there, right? Shit... where was Lord Folken?

"People's emotions make it so."

Other way out, where are you? Dallet looked up, hoping to see Lord Folken, wings and all, coming back down with Pearce, the bad ass. Pearce was officially upgraded from creepy bastard. Dallet hoped they weren't lost in all the fog the machine was creating. He'd heard a few things banging around above, and he pictured Folken and Pearce smacking into things as they descended with a smirk. Folken should have brought goggles instead of that sword. Folken was probably moving slow as molasses to ensure he and Pearce didn't meet their Fate in the form of pancakes.

"The Zone of Absolute Fortune, which has granted everyone their wishes, has merely made the fighting worse. Can't these people let go of this destiny war?"

Didn't you pretty much start the destiny war? Dallet gazed at Pincurl. Dallet couldn't keep calling him ghost and undead, but Dornkirk and Emperor seemed somewhat inappropriate now. There was something less imposing about the man now that he was vapor. Dallet's brow wrinkled. Was he vapor? He couldn't see through him. Ai, an opaque ghost.

"Do they actually wish for war?"

Dallet knew of people back in his Zaibach days that wished for war. Anwar had wished for war, and so had Lord Dilandau... when he'd been weird. Dallet would have sworn Lord Dilandau was possessed more than half a year ago. Maybe that spirit was possessing the people Pincurl was raving about, the people who were fighting just to be fighting.

"Hitomi, can you see Palas? Is the castle untouched still?" Gatty sounded anxious.

"I can't see the castle. I only see battlefields soaked in blood. It's horrible. Please, please stop the machine! Make the fighting stop!" Hitomi clasped her hands together, begging Pincurl, who simply stood with his head back, gazing up at the bright blue orb of destiny... or blue shit, but Dallet figured Pincurl would call it destiny.

"Impossible, once set in motion, Fate cannot be stopped. If it is destruction that people wish, we can but accept it."

Easy for you to say, Mr Spook. You're already dead. Geez. Dallet took a deep breath and looked from Pincurl leaning on a cane Dallet hadn't noticed before, to Hitomi and Gatty. Gatty was looking back at him. Dallet let go of his sword. He had never met a machine that couldn't be turned off. They either had off switches or plugs he could pull. Either way, once a machine was separated from its source of power it no longer worked. Dallet merely had to find its power source.

'People's emotions make it so.'

Dallet blinked. The machine granted everyone's wishes. The machine had activated after Pincurl's death, which was like a sacrifice, one that might have been needed to flip the on switch. Dallet felt the wind leaving him as an invisible fist caught him in the solar plexus. The power source... 'Once set in motion Fate can't be stopped'... was one Dallet couldn't reach. It was human emotion, raw human emotion. This stupid machine was exploiting the fact that human beings were inherently selfish, hedonistic beings. It was giving everyone what they really wanted at once and creating the chaos Dallet had heard on the communication wire.

"Why are Allen and Van fighting?" Hitomi was speaking again.

Schezar and His Hindquarters were fighting? Did they know they were fighting each other? Maybe that Valeska bitch was there and had squirted more of that sticky crap on their visors.

"This is their wish."

The hell? But Van and Schezar were old chums, or rather they used to be. Miguel and Gatty had told Dallet about the argument Schezar and Van had over Lord Dilandau earlier. Schezar had stormed off in a huff, so reported Miguel, and Miguel was the master of huffs, so Dallet trusted his judgment when he said Schezar was in one.

But still– a physical fight on the battlefield? What could have been so serious?

"No stop!" Hitomi screamed. "Please stop, Van!"

"Those youths seem so happy," Pincurl said.

Dallet didn't like the way the two, Hitomi and Pincurl, stood so still. It was as if they were no longer in the room with Dallet and Gatty, but out on the field, witnessing the display. This was well beyond creepy, this was downright piss in your pants scary and Dallet really wanted to know where Lord Folken and Pearce the bad ass were. Lord Folken studied weird and Pearce ate it for brunch, then chopped off its head.

"Their wishes have been granted in the Fortune Zone."

"Stop Van!" Hitomi screamed again, her voice desperate.

Dallet squinted, trying to see what Hitomi saw in the glowing orb. He saw nothing but swirling masses of energy. He tried to make them into people. He wanted to see Van in the Escaflowne going after Schezar with everything he had, and he wanted to see Schezar attacking right back. He bet the fight was spectacular. But... but he also didn't want to see either man hurt. They both meant so much to Astoria, to Gaea, to Lord Dilandau... and maybe Van meant a little something to Dallet too, and Hitomi.

Dallet frowned at the girl. Tears brimmed in her green eyes that Dallet was sure were not at the sight of Pincurl's wig... but was she crying for Van or Schezar? Last time Dallet heard, Hitomi had dumped Schezar on his ass, but that didn't mean she wanted to see him skewered at the edge of a sword. Though, the girl had been sweet on Van too at the start of all this. If Hitomi was yelling for Van, Dallet wondered if she knew how Van felt about Lord Dilandau, and would she still be yelling like that if she did. She sounded like her heart was breaking, and it made Dallet sick. He didn't like to hear people scream, not good people anyway.

"Stop it, Van. Don't fight, Van!"

Hitomi stretched her arms out as if reaching out to grab someone as she spoke. Dallet watched her face, saw the softness of her expression, the tenderness in her eyes. Ai, this was worse than chaos, this was the legendary tenth hell Dallet liked to call: the Labyrinth. Unfortunates who found themselves lost in this maze of tangled relationships were rarely heard from again. Maybe Van should stop fighting, and let Schezar run him through. It might be less painful.

"Van." Hitomi said again, softly. The jewel around her neck was glowing and Pincurl stared at the girl as Dallet did. What was he thinking?

Pincurl ignored everyone else in the room but Hitomi, as if she was the most important person there. She believed she was, Lord Folken and Lord Dilandau said she had power. Dallet had seen her power. She'd brought them all here. Lord Folken might have been Dallet's other way home, but Hitomi would be the one to ensure that journey was safe. If Dallet knew how, he'd give himself a prize, but somehow he felt, not comfortable, but secure.

The machine was working off of people's wants, it could not be turned off, but its signal could probably be guided. If someone could take the power of a million wishes and meld them into one, this place could be saved. Basically, the people needed a general, a president, an electoral college to make an educated decision for them. Hell, they needed Lord Dilandau, but he'd chosen to stay ghost-free today, so Hitomi, with the power of Atlantis around her neck, would have to do.

Ai, his nerves. Lord Dilandau owed him big, indeed.

---

"Let's end this!" Van charged at the fallen purple guymelef. It was time to put Valeska to rest. This girl had killed Duke Freid, she'd tried to kill Allen, she'd tried to hurt Dilandau, and for what? She wasn't fighting for the glory of a nation, she wasn't fighting for the ideals of right and wrong. She was just fighting.

Van heard Hitomi's voice in his head. Van, no!

He'd hit his head quite a few times during the course of battle, and wanted to attribute his hearing things to that, but the creeping feeling in his gut and the tingle on his skin told him otherwise. Shut up, Hitomi; I'm busy.

Van brought the Escaflowne to a halt. Something dropped from the sky and landed in front of him, a guymelef. It caught his down strike and forced his sword upward. Scherazade?

"Allen?"

"Stop, Van. Put away your sword." Allen's voice was strained. Was he injured? Maybe something had damaged his eyes and he couldn't see. Allen couldn't possibly know that he was protecting Valeska. Van wondered at the number of people who had sacrificed themselves to save this crazy woman. He thought of the blue alseid he'd skewered only moments before that had thrown itself between Valeska and Escaflowne's sword.

"This woman's obsessed with fighting! By killing her, I'll remove the source of evil on Gaea by the roots!"

"You're wrong! You're never going to end people's hatred by striking down Valeska."

Van growled low in his throat. Was Allen preaching to him, after that spat in the hallway they'd had this morning? After Allen had betrayed his trust? Allen was lucky Van was still speaking to him, and now Allen had the nerve to tell Van he was wrong to kill someone who fought under the banner of the people who would destroy Gaea? Van pulled his sword back and swung it at Allen. Metal clashed as Allen caught the blow and returned it.

"Allen, move."

"You'll have to go through me," Allens said.

Van's eyes widened and a bead of sweat rolled from the center of his forehead down the bridge of his nose. What was wrong with Allen today?

"Because... Valeska's my sister!"

Van tossed his head back and laughed out loud. His sister? "Allen, you truly have gone crazy. Just this morning Dilandau was your brother. Did you trade him in for this bitch, or something? I'm not sure he'd appreciate that."

"Van... they're twins! Dilandau and Valeska are twins!"

Van shook his head. Poor sick bastard. Van swung at Allen again and Allen, once again, caught and returned the blow.

"All of Valeska's, Celena's, crimes are my crimes, even if she was controlled by Zaibach's magic. Don't hold back. Swing at me! Face me, Van Fanel. I, Allen Schezar, Knight of Caeli, will fight you to the best of my ability!"

Van gritted his teeth as Allen came at him. He was serious. Allen was seriously going to fight him for Valeska's life. Van had no choice; he had to fight him.

The dance began, Allen taking lead and Van was forced to follow, but not for long. Steel sung through the air, and sparks dripped from crossing blades. Blue and red capes swirled around the massive bodies of the melefs, at times obscuring Van's vision and almost making him miss one of Allen's strikes.

"You've gotten surprisingly better. I'm glad Van!" Allen shouted, jabbing his sword toward Van's middle. Van jumped back and brought his sword down to go beneath Allen's blade and knock it upward and back. If he used enough strength, he could send it spiraling from Allen's hand. Without a sword, Allen would be powerless against Van.

Allen moved back, his wrist rolling with Van's blow to keep a firm grip on Scherazade's sword. Allen was good. How could he control that guymelef so well without merging with it?

"You're good. I knew you would be Allen," Van said, as they spun and whirled, delivering and receiving hits. If Van miscalculated any of Allen's moves, he'd be dead.

"Well, Van, what a fine swordsman you've become. You remind me of Balgus!" Allen rushed at him, thrusting forward. Van, again, had to dodge. Allen had taken him off guard with that comment. Van didn't like being reminded of the dead. Why was Allen teasing him, reminding him of...of Valeska and Dilandau when they'd fought? They'd spoken so easily, trading clever insults and making their deadly display of swordsmanship seem like a skirmish on the playground.

Van wished he could be so graceful in battle. As it was, Allen was throwing him off. I want to beat him! Van jumped as Allen slashed at his feet. I will defeat him!

There, Allen was distracted. Scherazade stopped moving, its head half turning toward something else on the field. Your opponent is me, Allen, Van wanted to shout. "Allen!" Van raised his sword high and brought it down as he lunged toward Scherazade. This was the end. He was going to win.

"Van no!"

Van jumped in his chair. Hitomi wasn't just a voice in his head now; she was a presence. The Escaflowne faded away and Van hovered in a gray, airy void.

"Stop it, Van! Don't fight, Van!" A soft, warm arm was over his, holding it. Van looked to see Hitomi, her feathery bangs floating about her face. She pulled his arm to her chest. "It's all the fault of Emperor Dornkirk's machine."

"Dornkirk?" What did he have to do with Van finishing Allen off and proving to everyone that Van was the better man? Allen would never try to take anything from him again.

"Yes, and the bad fate won't stop," Hitomi continued to babble. Van wanted to snatch his arm back.

Hitomi must have read that on his face, because she changed her tone. She stopped raving and started talking. "If we don't do something, Gaea will end up like Atlantis."

Atlantis had destroyed itself. Van swallowed. Gaea could really end up like that, because of a contraption of Zaibach's emperor? Van looked into Hitomi's eyes for falsehoods, for hysterics, and found none. He, instead, felt power trickling from her, the same power he felt when she did card readings or used her pendant. This was real.

"All right. So, I'll settle things with Allen, and then I'll kill Dornkirk."

"No! You don't have to fight, Van."

"I'll end this war! I'll avenge my country, and then, I'll save you." He'd dragged Hitomi into this after all. The least he could do was see her home for good. For her to be contacting him like this with such information meant she must be with Dornkirk somewhere. Van could find her; he knew he could.

"Van, stop it. Those emotions are causing the fighting."

"I'm fighting to protect you, and people like you."

"Nobody asked you to."

Like hell they didn't.

"Don't fight. There's no reason for you to fight Allen..."

Van tried to pull his arm away. "I get it! You're just worried about Allen!"

"No, Van, why don't you understand what I'm saying? I worry about you so much. I care about you so much."

Van didn't want to hear anymore. He felt himself drifting away from Hitomi, back to the fight, back to where he wanted to be. He was in the Escaflowne, watching Scherazade fall from a direct blow to the face. Escaflowne's sword dented the grill of Scherazade's helmet. Scherazade hit the ground with a terrible crash that made Van cringe. Oh no.

Allen? Van thought of Allen, the beautiful knight that had given him refuge in his castle and had come to Van's rescue when Van had been captured by Zaibach. Allen had fenced with him when Van needed an opponent and tried to be the big brother Van couldn't let Folken be, wouldn't let Folken be.

Folken. Van thought of his brother. Where was Folken now? Was he at the castle looking after Dilandau? Folken was a good brother to Dilandau, one Van wished he had. Only Van had Allen, who now wanted to be a good brother to Dilandau too. Were they trading? Was Dilandau taking Allen and Van was to take Folken back, or was Dilandau getting two brothers, because Van felt he was too good for the ones he had? Van shunned Folken and he'd been trying to hurt Allen.

What was wrong with him? Was it Dornkirk's machine like Hitomi said?

Van watched Scherazade's hatch open and Allen pop out like nothing had happened, like he hadn't just been fighting Van to the death. He ran across the body of the melef and jumped onto the rocky terrain. Allen was moving toward something, or someone. Van blinked at a lean figure dressed in black and purple armor. If he didn't know better, he would have thought it was Dilandau standing there, but when he squinted he saw that the hair was blond, like Allen's, and curly. She stood like Dilandau though, and tilted her head like him. She even placed her hand on one hip and leaned back to observe people like Dilandau did on occasion. She stared at Allen, looking him up and down, and when the man tried to hug her, she punched him in the chest. Allen seemed dumbfounded, then offended. The girl seemed amused.

What the hell? Was that Valeska or maybe it was Celena, Allen's sister, like he'd said? She looked like Allen, she looked like Dilandau. Allen looked like Dilandau. Van's head hurt; he wished he had a lap to lay it in, like he had when he was younger. He remembered running through fields in Fanelia and playing in the woods. He remembered hiding, giggling because he knew he would be found. Folken always found him and tossed him up into the arm. They would talk by the stream and when Van fell asleep, it was always with his head in Folken's lap as his big brother hummed a Fanelian folk song and finger combed his hair.

Allen and Celena were hugging, or doing something close to it. The girl looked stiff and uncomfortable, but she ruffled Allen's hair afterward and then ruffled her own. They were laughing about something.

Van wanted to smile for them. Brother and sister united. Van wanted to see Folken now. It was absurd. He was in the middle of battle. A war was raging around him, and all he could think about was Folken tossing him in the air and catching him. Folken reading him stories. Folken pretending not to see Van as he snuck out of his lessons to play with Merle.

What was happening? Van felt light. He could hear Hitomi calling for him to come back, she had something to tell him. Hitomi... Hitomi was with the Emperor, the Emperor had the machine that was causing this. Hitomi needed Van's help to stop it. She had the power, but she needed Van or she wouldn't have called to him.

He felt the Escaflowne transforming, before he'd even decided he wanted it to. It shifted into dragon form, and Van held the reigns as it took flight. He looked down to see Allen and Celena looking up at him, Celena pointing and Allen waving.

Van would stop Dornkirk's machine, end this chaos, and... and protect people like Allen and Celena...and maybe Dilandau too... that held family dear. He'd protect little brothers who'd lost their big brothers, but hoped to find them again.

"An agitated heart calls the dragon near. Hate and fear create conflict." Van nodded to himself, trying to understand what Hitomi had been telling him. It would help for when they met face to face. Escaflowne bucked and Van nearly toppled off. He gripped the reigns. He saw a glimmer of Hitomi's face and shut his eyes at the emotion that came with it. Love, her love, aimed at him.

Wings sprouted from his back, ripping his shirt to red ribbons. Van stood straight, releasing the reigns. He didn't need them now. He could fly on his own. He leapt from Escaflowne's back, letting the dragon fall without a rider. He flew forward, faster than he'd ever flown before. It was hard to breathe with so much wind whipping into his face. Van crossed into an unknown land, the sky was dark and the yellow lights of the city seemed to pollute the air. The buildings were tall and slender, many square windows glowing against the darkness of metal walls. Blue lightning struck in multiple places, fiery blue tendrils licking silver streets. A golden fortress sat in the heart of the city, a green light erupting from its middle.

That was where the Emperor was. Van flew toward it, seeing images of Hitomi smiling and waving him on. All right, here goes. Van dove down the shaft emitting the light, shutting his eyes against the bright glow and not slowing his descent. He felt as if he were fighting against something to enter the building, fighting against Fate perhaps. He hurtled downward.

"Hitomi!" She was here; he knew she was here.

"Van!"

There. Van could see Hitomi standing with someone, several people actually, at the end of the tunnel, but his vision was distorted. Was he looking through glass? As Van approached, he realized that he was and braced himself for impact. He crashed through the glass wall, closing his eyes to keep shards from damaging them.

"Van!" Hitomi stood with her arms open wide and Van let himself fall into them. He hugged the girl, his annoying friend from the Mystic Moon. He set his feet on the ground and dropped his face into her hair, inhaling its scent. Lemon, not roses. He laughed, recalling his confusion about what he felt for Hitomi and Dilandau months before. It was so clear now, he didn't know how he ever could have been so stupid.

Hitomi grinned at him as he pulled away. "Van, Van, I love you."

Van blinked at the sparkle in her eyes and the blush in her cheeks. Van would have turned somersaults if Hitomi had said this a long time ago, before Allen, before Dilandau. He smiled at her and took her hand, kissing it gently then shaking his head at her. I'm sorry, he mouthed.

Tears fells from Hitomi's eyes.

"Van?"

Van looked past Hitomi to the other people he noticed near her. Dallet and Gatty stood side by side, Dallet with a hand over his mouth and shaking shoulders and Gatty with his mouth agape. Folken's strange friend had his arms folded over his chest, studying Van coolly, and Folken... Folken was shirtless, his wings folded neatly behind his back. He was the one that had said his name.

Van felt his eyes watering. Folken's usually spiked hair was damp and smoothed over his forehead, like he used to wear it when he was younger, when they were younger. "Folken." Van let go of Hitomi's hand and moved to his brother, wings and white feathers trailing behind him.

Folken's eyes were warm and Van wondered what his own eyes were like. Did he look as kind or compassionate, was he crying? It felt like he was crying. He threw his arms around Folken, burying his face in his brother's warm chest and ignoring the fact that only one of the arms that closed around him was warm and soft. This felt good. This was right.

This was for the people who held families dear and for little brothers who'd lost their big brothers...and found them again. "I forgive you, Folken," Van said as an answer to Folken's whispers.

Folken was saying, "I'm sorry, Van. I'm so sorry."

It was so warm. Van felt his hair ruffling. Wind was rising from the floor, lifting him up. Folken rose with him. What now? He kept his arms around Folken; he wouldn't let go. Nothing could make him let go just yet, not an evil Emperor, not blue lightning, not...Fate. Like Dilandau had told Death to kiss his ass, Van was telling Fate to do the same.

"All right, that's it! I've had it. If I sprout wings too, I quit!"

"Dallet, I swear I can't take you anywhere!"

Van opened his eyes to see Gatty, Dallet, Hitomi and Pearce all floating around he and Folken in a circle. They were rising to the ceiling in a wave of blue mist. Van didn't know if this was a good thing, but it didn't feel bad. He shut his eyes again, knowing Folken would keep his open and look out for Van like he used to.

"What is this? Does this love they all have for each other surpass even that fate of war borne by man?"

Someone was speaking, the voice unfamiliar.

"But can this single moment last forever? This moment created by two easily swayed human hearts?"

"Is Pincurl gonna talk the whole time we're floating out of here?" Dallet pondered.

Gatty's laugh and the brush of Folken's wings were the last things Van was aware of before his awareness faded.

---

"It's over all ready? How can it be over?"

Allen sat with his knees pulled to his chest watching his dear little sister throw a mini-tantrum. She stomped around in a circle, swinging a long sword and howling at the sky about the Great War being over before she'd made a footprint in it using her own name.

"Not only will I be written down in the books as a villain, but I'll be a lousy villain! Do I have any wins on record, no! And when I can play the part of a hero, it's over. And do you know what the worst part about this is?"

Celena whirled around, blond curls falling in her eyes as she glared at Allen. Oh, was she finally talking to him now?

"What?"

"There's this dipshit out there that I was supposed to kill. I was looking for him and never found him. Someone must have gotten him before me. You don't think it was Dilandau, do you? The guy had beef with him too."

Allen raised a brow. Celena hadn't taken a breath since she'd changed back, regained her memory, or whichever. It seemed that Valeska had not been another alter ego, but Celena with a few key memories missing. Celena huffed about being tricked, about wanting to storm Zaibach and slay sorcerers. Allen was with her on that idea, but not so soon after getting her back, after getting his family back.

Allen rose and reached out to catch Celena's shoulder before she could start in on another tirade. "Celena, Dilandau didn't fight today."

Celena shrugged Allen's hand off and pulled her shoulder-length curls off her neck with one hand. "Dilan didn't fight? Are you sure? What's wrong with him? He sick? He'd have to be crazy not to– " Celena trailed off, blue eyes losing their manic glaze. Allen almost sighed in relief that Celena seemed to have a sane side to her too. He'd been worried.

"Len, he's not sick or hurt is he?"

Allen smiled. He didn't understand how the bond between Celena and Dilandau worked, he'd never understood, but now he wanted to. Allen reached out to smooth a curl over Celena's forehead in an attempt to make her look more feminine. She was such a pretty girl. Armor didn't suit her at all, but Allen was sure he'd have to fight her to get her to take it off.

Was he ever in for it.

Celena blew the curl off her face. "Len?"

"He's not been well, Celena, but he's going to get better, especially after he sees you." Allen watched the corners of Celena's mouth tremble.

"He's not sick because of me, is he? I didn't know if he could make it on his own, but–but you said he was all right now."

Allen nodded. "Yes, yes, he's all right now."

Celena swiftly sheathed her sword. "Rip one of those flow-y things off your vest, so I can tie my hair back. I want to see my little brother, now."

Allen raised both brows, but obeyed, severing a loose flap from his overcoat and handing it to his sister. As she worked at pulling her back and tying a knot, Celena squinted up at him.

"So, now you finally believe that I have a little brother?"

Allen snorted, pulling a curl free to fall over her forehead again. "So, now I finally believe that I have a little brother too. Come on, you, before he gets out of bed to come after us."

Celena chuckled. "He better not. I'll beat his ass."

"I'll hold him down for you."

Celena let go of her hair, and held her arms out. "Hug me again quick, before anybody sees, Len. I never thought I'd say this, but I really missed you."

Allen wrapped his arms around his sister, squeezing for all he was worth and lifting her off the ground a few inches. "I missed you too."

They began to walk together toward the Astorian lines. Allen heard his men calling to him and he waved back, pointing at Celena and laughing. He looked to the blue sky. Van had flown off after their fight. Allen didn't know where he'd gone to, but soon after, the war had ended, and Allen had a feeling Van had something to do with it.

"Len, you crazy?"

Allen gave Celena a nudge with his hip and snickered when she stumbled. "Maybe."

Thank you, Van.

---

Author's Note: Well... what's the verdict? Like it? Don't Like it? Don't care either way? Any way, let me know. Please review :). Epilogue is soon to come.