When Distorted Destinies Collide

Disclaimer: I own nothing of "The Vision of Escaflowne" or of "Avatar: the Last Airbender." But the dangerous and hare-brained idea of bringing these two together is the product of my twisted imagination.

NOTE: This story was originally supposed to be a one-shot and I left it that way for a few years. But lately, I've been thinking about this crossover again and though I have no plans of expanding it into a much longer story, I thought I would at least post another chapter and see if I feel like continuing it from there. This was fun to write though. And I figured I might as well post it on this particular date.

I'd like to thank hellokitty70705 for expressing interest in this story. I can't promise more updates but I hope you enjoy this second chapter.

Happy birthday, Dilandau!

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Gaea had never known such a terrible storm.

People rushed to find shelter from the fury of the elements. The rain pelted roofs mercilessly and the strong winds howled all day and night, a chilling sound that eerily resembled the screams of the dying. Every crash of thunder made people jump and lightning tore through the sky like a sword slashing through the flesh of an enemy. It was unlike anything anyone in that world had ever experienced.

But worse still was what followed. The weather had finally settled and people were slowly beginning to recover from the devastation of that storm. Houses were being rebuilt and fields resown. And then, there were whispers, whispers of a creature who seemed to have emerged from the tempest itself. Rumors spread through the villages and since these passed through word of mouth, it was difficult to separate fact from fiction. Accounts were exaggerated and embellished so that the narrators would get more attention. But one thing remained consistent in all these wild tales. Someone had arrived after the storm.

At first, people could never agree on a description of this mysterious stranger, who wandered from village to village, town to town, in various disguises. Some said it was a gaunt young woman who seemed to be a former soldier. Others argued that it was hauntingly beautiful lady who seemed to be of noble blood. Others still said that it was a psychotic, murderous witch who cast a curse on any who opposed her. But there was a general consensus on two things: first, was whoever this person was, she had a striking pair of golden eyes, a distinguishing feature no one else had been known to possess; and second, wherever this person passed, a trail of fire and destruction was left in her wake.

It was never clear if she simply had a talent for arson or if she possessed a weapon that facilitated the burning of various items. Others even claimed that she could produce fire from her very fingertips but this as dismissed as completely fantastical. No one on Gaea had such abilities. But then again, there was a chance that this stranger was not even from this world. After all, if a girl from the Mystic Moon could travel to Gaea, it was possible that beings from other worlds might be able to accomplish the same feat.

Fire stirred painful memories of the war, even though some years had already passed since it ended. But there were those who still remembered the horrors and they now feared that this was a sign of another conflict brewing. The damage was not yet so significant as to alert the attentions of the various world leaders. But the disturbances increased as the stranger made her way around Gaea. And soon, more details emerged about her quest, and once her goal was confirmed, people grew even more afraid.

For it was said that in every village or town she passed through, she mentioned a name that even now continued to strike terror into the hearts of men. That she was searching for him as an ally and not an enemy was an even greater concern. But people were beginning to understand the connection between this enigmatic figure and her target and this made them shudder even more. For there was only one question on the stranger's lips wherever she went:

"Where is Dilandau Albatou?"

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Jajuka frowned as he made his way towards Lord Folken's laboratory. This new development, added to the strange rumors he had been hearing, was most disturbing. But there was no doubt that the forces of Destiny were shifting and that this had a great deal to do with his former charge and captain. But how the world would be able to deal with this impending change was another matter. So many things could go wrong and they had to be prepared for as many possibilities as they could. Gaea could not afford to suffer another war, and especially not one in such volatile circumstances.

The former Zaibach soldier reflected on all that had happened after the war. For some inexplicable reason, he had survived the last battle and he had always known that somehow his fate was tied to that of Dilandau Albatou, who had disappeared once the consciousness of Celena Schezar had taken over. He was glad that the gentle girl was finally free from her decade-long cage but he also worried about her alter ego. After all, Dilandau was a completely different person, a second soul trapped in one body, and since he did not actually die, he could not have simply vanished from the world. Since Celena had expressed her trust and affection for the dog-man, he had been allowed to stay by her side. Her brother had been grateful to have someone to watch over his sister as she struggled re-adjust to the world after being trapped for ten years.

Folken too had miraculously survived his encounter with Emperor Dornkirk and he was still searching for an explanation for this. Not that the former Strategos was not grateful for being granted a second chance. He had since devoted his life to helping with the rehabilitation of Fanelia and with doing everything he could to support peace and harmony in the world he had once sought to destroy. But he and Jajuka had remained in contact and they had shared many a discussion about the reasons for their survival. They were all still tied to Zaibach in some way and they wanted to understand this better not just for themselves but also to prevent any future misfortune.

Jajuka greeted Folken politely as he entered the laboratory where the latter was engaged in yet another of his research projects. Folken nodded at him.

"What news?" the former Fanelian prince asked, "You look troubled."

"I am not sure what to make of it," Jajuka conceded, "so I thought that I should discuss it with you."

Folken frowned. "It's something very serious then," he commented, "tell me everything, old friend."

With a sigh, Jajuka recounted the incident. It had lasted but a moment but that was all it took for him and Allen to worry.

Celena had been her usual, cheerful self when she suddenly collapsed. Fortunately, Allen and Jajuka had rushed to her side and though she did not have any physical symptoms of illness, there had been something off about her. Her eyes had been closed when she fell and when she opened them, for the briefest moments, her face had changed. It had twisted into a familiar, sinister smirk and her eyes were once more the color of blood.

In a voice hoarse from misuse, Dilandau only managed to utter a few words before Celena regained her hold over him and blinked back into consciousness, completely ignorant of what had just happened.

"What did he say?" Folken asked Jajuka gravely. The dog man repeated Dilandau Albatou's first words after years of silence.

"She's coming, she's coming for me."