This chapter is smaller than I would have liked, but I decided to go ahead and post. I'm revealing quite a bit in this one. I know I'll be getting a lot of predictions with it, so that'll be fun. :) Just remember: no one has completely predicted everything I've planned so far. Several of you have hit some spots - but I'm not telling what or who. I know more of you will start guessing. But trust me, I always have a trick up my sleeve.

Well, here we go...

Van's red eyes followed the golden armored girl as she made her way to the steps once more. Watching her swiftly climb closer to the awaiting clock-pit, he realized his lips were curled in a goofy smile. Flicking his eyes away from her, he swallowed and turned his gaze to white metal monster kneeling before him. Walking slowly forward, his foot touched the first step. Escaflowne's white helmet unexpectedly screeched on his shoulders to look at Van and he stumbled back in surprise.

"You are very small. The White Dragon hissed in his low voice. "Tinier than the last Fanel I let Pilot me. Will you be able to reach the controls properly, little one?"

The mild trepidation Van had felt before evaporated. Pausing with his right foot resting on the first step, a sharp frown hit his tan face.

Is he making fun of me?

"The white armor from your ancestor hardly covers your vital spots. You are too thin. How can you handle the heat of battle with such a gaunt body? I have never seen such tiny arms and legs in my entire existence and I have been here since the beginning of your species."

Escaflowne's voice was cool, his tone bored and uncaring. A shocking simmer of irritation and embarrassment hit the king's stomach. Hitomi was standing in her cock-pit, watching him with staring golden eyes. He took a quiet breath to settle his anger and he raced his eyes bravely up into Escaflowne's helmeted face. Quirking a dark eyebrow, Van made sure his voice held the same indifferent tone the Guymelef had used on him.

"It is true, White Dragon. I am small where you are big. I am nothing without your power and vox." Van tilted his head and felt his messy hair brush against his cheek. "And yet you are immobile without this gaunt body to help you. You cannot leave this isolated spot without this gaunt body to move you."

"I have made you angry, little king. I've insulted your stature and now you wish to remind me of my own handicap." He sounded almost pleased with himself. Van clenched his fists and tried to stop the increasing swirl of his vox.

"Need I remind you accepted me? Therefore, I am your Pilot. You could have picked someone stronger, bigger, taller, but you chose me. We have now entered the contract you are bound to. You and I are partners. Consequently, you owe me your respect."

Silence filled the chamber as an echo of the word "respect" skipped dangerously off the walls and faded out of existence.

"Respect." The word echoed again, this time it rumbled the stones in the walls. The giant's limbs twitched slightly. "I owe you respect for nothing. You are weak, little king."

"I may be weak and you may be strong, but you still cannot move, White Dragon."

Van heard Rutilus give a small hiss and whisper something to Hitomi, but all of his attention was on Escaflowne. This had unpredictably become a test of wills.

And Van had to win.

"Climb inside then, little king."

Hitomi and Rutilus were still, both watching. He kept his eyes on the moving white helmet as he ascended the steps. With a calm expression that he didn't feel inside, the king continued until he reached the edge where the open platform waited for him. Grasping for a small crevice in the metal, Van swung himself off the steps and landed perfectly on the cock-pit. The man-sized hole surrounded by whirling and clicking machinery was shaped like Escaflowne's current position: kneeling down. He approached his Pilot's 'chair' confidently and turned around to kneel.

However, as soon as his back pressed against the inside of Escaflowne, the core in his chest burst open against his will and raced uncontrollably hot like an inferno. The king swallowed down his painful gasp and tried to keep breathing properly. He held his arms still and watched with concealed horror as his red vox flared down his limbs; turning his skin a painful reddish-brown.

Never before had his power surged like this. Never before had it burned so angrily.

"You want respect?"

Gritting his teeth silently behind his lips, the vox seared and frothed ferociously as it spread into every crevice of his muscles and pulsed excruciatingly with his rapid heartbeats. The vox traveled like a firestorm to blister his bent legs and he almost let out a groan of agony. His arms shook and he willed them to stop. The red magic encroached on his eyesight making it hard to see the twitching switches that closed the lid on the cock-pit. His ears roared with flames, his mouth burned with fire. Suddenly, small scarlet wires encased his feet, the metal bindings attaching and wrapping themselves instantly from his ankles to his thighs. Likewise, more red wires snaked down to wrap his arms and continued on to his torso; swiveling up to his throat. The fiery vox blazed against the wires, inflaming the armor on his body. Van held in his screams, his red vision a pin-prick in the firestorm. Was he on fire? Van couldn't tell. His body was burning. Though his heart pulsed wildly with panic, another level of his consciousness fought the fear. This was a test from Escaflowne. The realization kept his lips closed against his screams. He was not going to let Escaflowne win. Fire was his vox.

And he would not let it win.

The wires finished wrapping on each individual finger and his vox gave one last spinning burn before racing out of his body like a whirlwind sucking the fire away. Without a second thought or giving himself any reprieve from the fire, Van pushed with his aching muscles and both heard and felt the rattling creaks of the White Guymelef as he stood with him. The red receded from his eyes. He watched through the grated protection plate as the ground shrunk beneath him. The two waiting priests were small red and gold specks on the ground. Lifting his right arm, he saw the large white machine do the same.

"Perhaps you aren't as tiny as I originally thought." The deep voice snaked quietly in Van's ear.

Van was silent for a moment. Swallowing down his pain, irritation, and the fiery burn that still lingered in his throat, he asked, "Is this how you strap in all your Pilots?"

"Just the little ones." Escaflowne answered.

There was a moment of silence. And then Van couldn't help it. A small smile broke out on his face. It grew on his lips. A bark of a laugh escaped his throat and he felt a shiver of deep amusement radiate from the Guymelef.

His Guymelef.

Escaflowne was his.

Beside them, Hitomi's golden eyes were wide with disbelief as Van's laughter rang out from the closed cock-pit.

Rutilus summed up her thought with one word:

"Males…"

Millerna wiped her forehead and brushed her curling locks behind her ears. Though it had been only less than fifteen minutes or so since the king and the Pilot disappeared into the Temple, it already felt like an hour had passed. The sun was traveling slowly to the west and heat was beginning to rise. Hiding her smile from Gadeth and Dryden, she watched from the corner of her eye as they both bowed ridiculously to each other once more. This had to have been the thirtieth bow at least. She had long lost count.

When the huge doors first graded shut on Lord Van and Lady Hitomi, she'd strained her ears and eyes to pick up any possible sound or flicker of unnatural power from the old Temple. Only a minute later, the Council began muttered distractingly to each other behind her. She couldn't hear what they were saying without perceptively eavesdropping, so she decided to bug Dryden to get it out of his dad later. Spying wasn't her vox forte anyway. She could have asked Balgus to join the conversation, but the old man was being unusually quiet. His old, powerful horse had moved to follow Lady Hitomi into the Temple, but Balgus had held him back. The horse let out a small nicker of discomfort. Since then, his scarred eyes pierced the large stone structure with worried glances and his heavy brow was scrunched in a permanent scowling frown.

Meanwhile, Gadeth immediately tapped Dryden on the shoulder and challenged him to something called a Gentlemen's Vox Slap. The long-haired man smirked, and of course, complied. She bit her tongue and kept silent. Any inquiry into their antics usually ended with her joining them. After the feather fiasco at the Royal Welcoming, she had sworn to never get herself involved. And whatever a Gentlemen's Vox Slap entailed had to be weird, painful, or just plain stupid.

And of course, she was right on all three accounts.

Turning so they sat both legs dangling on one side of their horses, they faced each other and gave an identical courteous bow; heads dipped low. Straightening, Dryden slipped off his spectacles and tucked them away. She congratulated herself on holding her curiosity back as she watched Gadeth's right hand glowed a tinge of green and suddenly smack Dryden right across the face!

Apparently, he literally meant 'slap'.

Now, fifteen minutes or so later, both red-cheeked and giving each other abnormally polite smiles, Dryden lifted an orange glowing hand and hit a green fist that immediately popped up to block him. He stopped short with a feint and smacked Gadeth hard in the cheek with his other hand.

"Smashing one, sir," The green man nodded with approval after he'd straightened up from the hit. Rubbing his ever-increasing red cheek, he gave another bow.

"Thank you, sir," Dryden bowed as well. "Remarkably excellent attempted at blocking, old chap. Respectable control on the vox."

"I thank you as well, my good fellow."

"You're such a good sport. Especially from the abuse you had earlier today."

"Those slaps I endured before we left? Those were love taps. This, sir, is a gentleman's game."

"A gentleman's game, indeed." Dryden agreed with a slight nod.

Shall I try?"

"Right then. Have at it."

Gadeth swung with his right hand and hit Dryden's orange fist. Trying with his left as well, he found another orange block.

"You always were the finest at vox control, my dear Fassa."

"Now you are just flattering me. What is the score, sir?"

"Is there a score?"

"I've slapped you at least fifteen times."

"I thought it was eighteen."

"What a silly notion. I could have sworn it was fifteen."

"You are being gracious, my good friend. It has to be eighteen!"

"Well, this is a Gentlemen's Vox Slap, so I wager we give another round of slaps to decide the winner, eh what?"

"Here, here! Another round of slaps it is."

They both gave each other another ridiculous bow. With their heads still down, Gadeth's hand flashed forward for Dryden's face and was instantly stopped by Dryden's fist. They both straightened up with identical crazy smiles.

"You really are a paramount at the vox control," Gadeth complimented charmingly.

"A gentleman never underestimates his opponent."

Slap. Gadeth got him. Dryden's long hair whipped with the violent turn of his head.

The orange man's perpetual smile widened slightly as his cheek burned bright red. "You use the element of surprise rather vivaciously, sir."

"Why, thank you. I-"

Slap. Dryden got him back.

"I see what you did there, friend."

"I was quick there, wasn't I?"

"Yes, you were, sir."

Block. Orange sparks flew as Gadeth's green hand was stopped short with a fist.

"Should we stop them?" A low voice whispered from her left. She turned her eyes to see Allen's blue eyes twinkling in the sunlight. His long blond hair was draped casually over one shoulder. A small line of sweat beaded on his forehead.

"They are freely hitting each other… and being strangely polite about it. I honestly think this is probably the most normal thing they could have done to pass the time."

The blue-eyed man smiled as another round of gentlemen praises were exchanged between the two. Suddenly, his grin vanished and he turned his head to look behind him. A small frown hit his smooth mouth as his eyes shifted to an unnatural shade of aqua.

"What is it?" Millerna asked, turning around to follow his stare.

"Someone is coming."

She blinked in alarm and raised herself on her horse to look. He was right. A cloud of dust was slowly gathering on the horizon. Someone was on the path. The blond woman immediately felt for her core. Hostile or not, she would be ready.

"What's happening?" Gadeth called noticing the looks on their faces.

Slap. Dryden got him.

Distracted, the green man was smacked harder than usual and sent spiraling over his pony's head. Rolling awkward on the ground, he bounced to his feet and scrambled back on to his stamping pony. Immediately after, he bowed low to Dryden. "I was a bit sidetracked there, old friend. I apologize for not concentrating on the game."

"No need to apologize, my good sir. Shall we postpone?"

"A gentlemen rescheduling is in order." Gadeth agreed, and they bowed one last time.

"I'm glad that insanity is over," Balgus rumbled behind Millerna's back and she snorted a quiet laugh.

"Can you see who it is?" she asked turning back to Allen. He shook his head, biting softly on his bottom lip in concentration.

"Lemme see…" Gadeth announced, his eyes instantly tinted with green. He jumped up and balanced on the back of his pony's back. Placing one foot confidently on the black horse's rump, he leaned forward and said. "I say, no more than a dozen riders! We should factor in the chance that they convey snacks!"

"We are out of the Gentlemen's Vox Slap now. You can talk normally." Dryden said dryly.

"Twelve riders," Balgus repeated with a growl. His eyes finally turned from the Temple and seized on the green man. "They know this area is forbidden to commoners. Something must have happened."

"The real question is: should we stop them from coming? This is a sacred ritual." Modocca's wizened voice injected from behind them.

"Sacred? Since when has this been sacred?" The green man shouted incredulously at Modocca.

"Justinus, can you control your wild child?" Modocca sighed rolling his old eyes. Gadeth's father just shrugged good-naturedly. Turning back to Gadeth, he said, "We are awakening the Guymelef's here, are we not?"

"That's it! Who told the High Counselor that Lady Hitomi was the Pilot?" Gadeth roared accusingly, his voice carried ridiculously loud across the Temple grounds. He wobbled unbalanced as his pony tossed its dark head. "Was it you?" he yelled pointing at Brill and then his own father. "Wait, I know! It was yoooou!" He swung his pointed finger at a silent priest several feet away who raised his eyebrows wonderingly. "Such betrayal shall not go unpunished! Now he cannot be made fun of for his narrow-minded ways! I'll have your beards for this!"

"Calm down, you slap-happy moron!" The old man barked. "I will go meet them before they come closer."

"No, let me go, Balgus," Millerna spoke up. All eyes turned on her and she straightened her back with determination. "The Guymelefs will be out any minute now. I would rather her mentor be here when the doors open. Besides, I can more than handle a dozen riders if things get hostile."

"Wait, are we expecting an attack here?" Dryden asked putting his glasses back on.

"No need. They are from the Gazelle Clan lead by Aleg." The green man announced flashing his green eyes back to the horizon. "You can keep your crazy daggers at bay, Millerna."

"Never hurts to be ready, right, gentlemen?" She smirked and turned her horse's head without waiting for any more approval. Balgus let out a condemning huff, but she noticed his small eyes dart immediately back to the closed Temple doors. "I'll see what they want. And if they brought snacks." She added quickly as Gadeth's mouth popped open. He gave her a huge grin and thumbs up as he plopped back down on his pony excitedly.

Urging her horse with her mind, she sped past the men and down the long pathway.

Turning her eyes from Van – who was currently testing out Escaflowne's individual fingers - Hitomi took several steps towards the human sized hole inside Rutilus. She gasped slightly as she heard a whirling purr echo deep within the Guymelef. The platform where she stood felt solid under her feet, but wavered like water. Clutching the mechanical switches inside of the mighty Golden Guymelef, a wave of dizziness hit her as she realized how far from the ground she was.

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

"Just… just give me a minute…" Hitomi shuttered, closing her eyes.

"Get in there!"

"I will!"

"Hitomi, you are being a coward. After everything we have been through you are stopped because of a little acrophobia?"

"I know, I know! I'm being dumb!"

"Then get over it and get in that hole!"

"I am!" the girl yelled, feeling her dizziness wash away. "You are always so impatient!"

"Can you blame me!?"

Scoffing and muttering under her breath, she marched roughly to the human sized hole and knelt. She felt her heart skip a beat as the lid to the cock-pit closed shut and tiny golden wires appeared from the deep, dark recesses of the Guymelef's body. They gently wrapped around her ankles, traveling up her legs and torso.

"Don't be afraid. This is how you control me." Rutilus' voice was deeper, stronger, vibrated all around Hitomi's body. The cords swirled, tightening on her arms and shoulders. Her core quietly opened and spilled out with almost a soft caress, mixing with the small wires. They simmered together.

"I have two parts to my Guymelef form." The River hummed with the whirling gears all around her. "One is my heart, which is my own spirit, the stone. The small pink jewel I've used to channel my power and communicate. I built your power core and hardened your body so you could serve as my body. The heart and now the body have become one. We have now entered into contract, Hitomi. There's no turning back now. We are one."

"We are one." Hitomi repeated quietly, her golden eyes sparkling as her confidence soared. "No more fear. No more running away."

"All right then. Let's go." They said together. Pushing on her legs, Hitomi and Rutilus laughed as one as both machine and human shifted and stood. Hitomi turned her head and she felt the River do the same. She saw Van's red eyes watching her through the white Guymelef. Wordlessly, they reached out and both mecha grasped hands.

Together, as one, they stepped out the large stone doors and down the Temple hallway.

"Fanelia is on the offensive, my liege. Our troops suffer on their northern borders."

The voice – though loud in the quiet chamber - dropped soundless to the ground. The kneeling courier had been warned of the strange magic in the Black Castle, but he had never expected to actually physically feel the magic. It pulsed so thickly in the air, there was no room for sound waves. Likewise, the man felt there was hardly any room for his own body. From his eyes, he could see the chamber was empty besides himself and the Emperor.

And yet, it was as if there was another presence. One so large and engulfing, he could hardly breathe. The old man's face was covered from view, the hood draped into his face.

The man fought the urge to swallow down a growing lump of exhausted fear growing in his stomach. It was all he could do to keep his head raised.

"The most we've been able to manage are light skirmishes since our heavy battle on the Trimane. Our troops haven't been able to advance further without running into trouble with the fourteen clans settled on their border. The Canines have been a thorn in our side when it comes to the west and – according to the spies – the east is now settled by a mixed clan calling themselves 'The Mutts'. These monsters have been able to overcome the last three guymelefs we've made. Reports from the front states The Mutts have successfully dismantled one of the red melefs and used the flamethrower in a sneak attack just last night against the squadron we have stationed several miles off the Riverlands to the southeast. More than half are dead or missing. The rest-"

"The rest are scattered. Hunted by mutts, beasts, animals. Fanelia resists me…What of the dog's messages?"

"He reports that Fanelia is still weak, my Emperor. The Guymelefs have not yet-"

"They are standing..." The Emperor's cloaked body shifted on his chair. His long gloved fingers gripped the deep velvet armrests on his throne. "I have felt it. The dog lies again and again. Why don't I just eliminate him? He is needed." A shadow of a second voice had entered with the Emperor's deep tones and it was the only thing to echo in the dark chamber. The courier squirmed with both fear and panic. The voice was female…

What the hell was that?

The courier swallowed again and the pressure in the room increased. The mysterious presence seemed to swirl with anger and rage. With a grunt, he struggled to keep his forehead from hitting the stone floor. "My liege, what is… what is your command?"

"The little spy has failed. It was a predictable outcome. That fool Folken has too much faith in his underlings." The Emperor murmured quietly. The man didn't know whether to answer or not. "I know he is in the process of training another. But what about this Pilot… the pendant escaped us long ago. So long ago… We held The River in our hands. We should have crushed it."

The Emperor's shoulders drooped. His gloved hand raised to his covered face and pressed it to the side of his head.

"I couldn't do that to my beloved Hitomi. She loved the pendant as soon as she saw it in my hands. So weak. I chose someone so weak. When I first found you, you were weaker than me. I've given you everything. I have done everything you've commanded of me. How much more will I give until you are satisfied? I will never be satisfied. I am willing to put men- Men who are created by me. They are still self-aware. They still feel fear and pain. Just like this one before me."

"What?" The man whispered, his green eyes wide with fear. The presence instantly fell ferociously solid on his body and the man gasped in pain. It pressed him into the ground so deeply, the courier laid eagle-spread on the chamber floor unable to lift even a finger.

"You have killed enough of my men. These are my men. Folken reassures me the Albatou will be ready soon. He will take care of them. You don't need to send so many to the slaughter. We should conserve our men. Create an invasion force. Do what you will." The Emperor shifted in his seat and addressed the man pressed to the floor. "My command is thus: send ever seasoned fighter we have to reinforce those on the border. We must gather our strength. Now that the Guymelefs are awake, we have to increase production on all weapons, Melefs, and training. Tell those in charge of the platoons to expect at least ten thousand more men. They will be arriving tonight. Send those ready to fight to the border. I want these Mutts dead. I want these clans destroyed. I want Escaflowne and Rutilus Flumen obliterated! Eliminate their Pilots! Burn their Temples! Kill! Kill them ALL!"

"I-I-I w-will pass you-your message a-along, m-m-my Emperor…" The courier whispered with his face forced firmly against the floor. He gasped as the presence released him and he pulled himself from the stony ground with violently trembling legs. "It will take time to train these new recruits."

"They will be ready within the moon cycle for a full scale attack. Hold out your scroll. I will seal it with my words."

Fumbling at the pouch hanging on his belt, the redheaded man pulled out a piece of parchment and held it out towards the Emperor. A black stringy substance crawled out of the Emperor's robes and traveled in the air with clawing fingers. It approached like a whip, faster than a shadow, and the man squealed in fright as it paused right before the held out parchment. Slowly, the black enveloped the front paper and then retreated. It backed away like a dragging body towards the Emperor.

"Go. The men are already coming."

"Y-yes, my liege!" The courier bowed low and walked briskly out of the chamber.

Allen stood still. His entire frame frozen in a state of numbness. He saw nothing of his surroundings. His vision was focused squarely on the small, still face of his little brother.

The room was quiet. The window was closed, yet the sun and wind tried to beat happily into the melancholy silence. There was only Allen and his little brother. Such a still, fragile thing.

Chid. He laid on the bed, his tiny hands so full of promise, now completely tranquil beside his unmoving body. Allen blinked once. Twice. Walked a little closer. Then backed away. Why was the room empty? Was there no one protecting the body of his little brother? The boy's eyes were closed. But he was breathing. He should be awake. Chid was never one for naps. He was the biggest ball of energy.

His core was numb, but somewhere Allen knew he should be feeling the heated pain of it. That it was raging, burning out of control.

Today was supposed to be a wonderful day. A day of triumph. A day of the world changing for the good. The Guymelefs had marched out of the Temple. Everyone had cheered. Gadeth had danced happily on his pony.

And then Millerna. Her heart-shaped face was pale, her blue eyes wide with horror, disbelief, and complete shock. She had looked at each of them in turn before announcing. He hadn't heard anything but the sound of her voice and his own increasing heartbeats. He was supposed to help escort the Guymelefs back to Escadellette. He was supposed to be number one of the Vehotus. He wasn't supposed to leave the king's side. But he didn't remember how he did it. He'd never transported before in his life. He'd never thought his vox was powerful enough. But here he was. And there Chid was.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, Allen heard the door to the room open and a small squeal ring out.

"A-Allen! How did you get here?" He didn't have to turn to know his sister's voice. It was thick. She was crying. "I've been standing outside the door talking with the physicians. I would have saw you-"

"How long has he been like this?" The blond man asked lifelessly. His hands were held limply at his side. His legs burned with his hot, uncontrolled vox, but he easily ignored the pain.

"He was found about an hour ago in the library. I sent Aleg along with his fastest riders to give the news to you."

"You shouldn't have done that. You interrupted the Pilots. You interrupted something sacred…"

He felt his sister's footsteps slowly cross the room and stop right behind him. "What could be more sacred than family?" Her voice was bitter, but Allen didn't register the anger. His blue eyes were focused on the covers that shifted up and down with Chid's peaceful breathing. "He won't respond, brother. He won't wake up. It's like he's dead, but still alive. What was I supposed to do? Sit here patiently until you returned?"

"Yes," Allen answered immediately. "You should have waited till the end of the ceremony. You should have waited until after the entrance of the Pilots. This was supposed to be one of the most important days in the history of our country. Fanelia has awakened the ancient power of the Guymelefs. Sending Aleg was a big mistake. The greatest mistake."

"How can you say such a thing? He is our brother!"

"In the big seam of life on this planet, Chid is nothing compared to the king and Lady Hitomi. They are the two most important people in the world now. And you took it upon yourself to interfere. Our family is disgraced because of you." Allen hardly noticed the words coming out of his mouth.

There was a small silence. Then…

Slap

Blond hair enveloped his vision as his sister raised her hand and slapped his other cheek. Her tear-stained face was blocking the view of Chid, so he looked at her without expression.

"You are a monster, Allen Schezar. You don't care about anyone else but your king and his little Zaibachian. You don't care about your own family. If mother drops dead tomorrow, you'll laugh along with Gadeth as he prances nude in front of the courtiers. If father breaks his neck, you'll keep feasting, keep cheering, and keep putting aside everyone who you use to love. You've changed so much since you moved here to the capital. You became caught up in all this vox grandeur and have forgotten who you used to be. To be honest, it's sickening. And now you're telling me that this random girl is more important than family?"

"Yes," Allen answered. "I am."

He watched Selena's eyes grow from a beautiful blue to a deeper sapphire. She pushed violently on his tall shoulders and he grunted quietly against the unexpected strength of her hands. Stumbling back, his body collided with a table and he tripped on one of the legs, falling to the ground. He blinked with more clarity, twitching his blue eyes to his sister as if finally seeing her for the first time. Standing slowly from the floor, he said, "You're vox is awakened."

She didn't hear him. "Go be with your king! Leave me to mourn for two lost brothers!"

"How long has your vox been awakened?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.

Selena took a deep breath and turned her back to Allen. Her head tilted down to glance at Chid. "What do you care?"

"Don't act like that with me, Selena. Answer me. How long?"

"Our brother is practically dead and you want to discuss vox magic!?" She wrapped her arms around her shoulders. "Why do you want to know so badly? Is this what you've always wanted? A powerful sister to follow obediently in your footsteps?"

Allen remained quiet for a moment. Then he took several steps forward towards Chid's bedside. Standing side-by-side, he reached down and grabbed her fingers clutching at the fabric of her gown.

"I want you to enter training immediately."

Selena growled in anger, wrenched her hand out of his grasp, and made a move to slap his face again. He caught her arm instantly. Turning his face, he stared into her dark blue eyes. "You will enter training tomorrow. No. Tonight. You will begin training as soon as possible. I will teach you the basics if I must."

"W-what? You can't just decide that on your own!"

"I am your older brother and you will do as I say."

"What about my friends? What about my life here as a courtier? Doesn't any of this mean anything to you?"

"You have embarrassed yourself and our family many times these past few months. This is a way of redeeming yourself."

"And so throwing me into danger is going to make it all better? Forcing me to join the battlefield? Bow down to the orders of a bloodhead? You may not have respect for family, but I refuse to be treated-"

"You have the potential to be Flower's Pilot with this amount of vox, Selena. You have the potential to become a legend and restore honor to our family's name. Even if Flower picks someone else, if you prove your worth, you can join me in the Vehotus and actually contribute to society for once. Endure the trials, and you will be by the king's side for as long as you live."

Selena fell silent, her mouth falling open.

"Chid will remain here where the best doctors will tend to him. Knowing the king, he will see to it personally. You will begin training with Balgus as soon as he agrees to it."

"But that means…" It was as if Selena couldn't say the words properly.

"Law willing, you will train with the Lady Hitomi."

Interesting times are ahead. And I've already gotten it all planned out.

Hope you enjoyed. Again sorry for the shorter update. I'm working on two other chapters for two other stories right now, so bare with me if the updates are a tad smaller. I also find that I don't get burnt out as bad with smaller updates. This is probably a record for me. :)

Well, if you have any predictions/thoughts/hated it/loved it/can't stand to see Selena in it/where is Yukari/Is Merle insane yet - you know what to do. I love each and every review, good or bad. Also, mistakes. If you see any, kill them for me.

Cheers!

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