"A Pair of Angels"

The next morning, almost everyone was assembled near the door in the room the Nisan sister was staying in, most of them looking rested.

"Good morning," Citan said in a cheery-but-quite-serious tone, "Operation 'Rescue Margie' is now under way! First Fei and I will prepare for the Tournament at the arena. When the Tournament starts, Bart will enter the waterway through the well and head for the castle."

"Wasn't Aireel going with you?" Bart asked.

"Yeah. Where is she, anyway?" Fei agreed.

"She left before any of us got up, so she is there by now. Now, young one, if you swim against the current you should reach the castle. I am certain there will still be guards there, so please dispose of them quietly. We will make a good show at the tournament to draw the guards' attention as long as possible. During that time you can rescue Margie. Any questions?"

Both of them replied in the negative.

The doctor nodded, continuing, "Then let us go. Young one, do be careful!"

The nun added, "Please take care. I wish all of you the best of luck."

The young pirate turned and said, "Fei, you gotta win, no matter what happens!"

"I'll try, good luck getting inside."

With that, both Citan and Fei left.

******

"You look a bit tired, doc," the younger of the two asked as they walked towards the castle, "You okay?"

"I am a little, to tell you the truth. Aireel and I were at the restaurant until late last night, catching up on things. After all, twenty years is a lot of lost time."

"I'll bet. Just what is she up to at the castle?"

"I do not know. When I asked her, she only smiled and said, 'You'll see'."

"Oh. Doc, do you really believe whatever it was the delver told you yesterday?"

Citan shook his head and said, "Not really. Anyone could have heard me talking about her or heard us."

"Maybe you're right. Just hope she doesn't pull something dumb."

"That would not be like her," Citan muttered as they neared the castle.

******

A few minutes later, Fei stood in one of the tents looking around, wondering how the past few minutes came and went in a flash. All of the talk he was hearing was about two of the other contenders: one named Wiseman...the other being a new entry, a tall woman in a fiery outfit.

He turned and was startled by an arrival...a painfully familiar one.

In one corner, a small boy with strange, almost spikey-but-balding red hair stood by himself, a hateful look on his face.

Dan? What's he doing here?

"Dan, what're you doing here?" he called out.

The young boy wheeled and became even angrier when he saw Fei.

"...It's your fault that Alice... I'll never forgive you. I'm gonna kill you!" he shouted at him.

He hung his head in sadness and said, "Dan..." but couldn't find the words to start explaining or apologizing.

Just outside the tent, two people were talking.

"...Which one you going for this year? Big Joe or Wiseman?"

"Actually, neither one this time. There's a new entrant, a lady that just might eat them both up for breakfast."

"Oh? Which one?"

"She calls herself the Dancing Firebird. She's pretty tall, looks skinny but at the same time a bit muscular, and she's wearing an outfit of a fiery color."

"Well, go on. I wanna hear about this."

"Yeah. She's got the oddest eyes, sky blue and crystal blue at the same time...and that hair...I've never seen anybody with that shade of red before. If I were to guess, I'd say that it'd be blood-red."

Fei turned pale as he listened and thought, Oh, no! I better tell doc about this!

Right before he could walk out of the tent to find Citan, a voice suddenly said on what sounded like a loudspeaker, "Attention all participants. We will be starting soon. Please enter the arena."

Oh, boy....I don't want to know how he'll react when he finds out who the Dancing Firebird is!

As Dan headed for the exit of the tent, he screeched, "You're the enemy of all in Lahan! I'll kick your butt in front of everyone! And don't be running away, either!"

"D-dan...I..."

The only other person in the room now, a strange man in a blue hooded cape asked, "Hey Mister, are you from Lahan?"

Fei look at him with a puzzled expression.

"Seems like you and that boy have a problem..."

"Who do you think you are? Just mind your own business!"

The mystery man simply laughed.

"What's so funny?"

Nothing... Just wondering what kind of fight you will have with that boy... Well, I'm looking forward to it, Fei..."

"Huh?!" he said out loud and thought, How does he know? I didn't use my real name...

Citan stood in the inner spectators' row, watching as a balding man in a strange, red outfit came up to the balony and started addressing the people.

This should be interesting, but where is Aireel? She said she would be here...

"...Brave young men are spilling their blood on the front lines. Our army is the best, but the tides of war are uncertain. To protect the tradtion of Aveh and preserve peace in this desert, we must all have unshaking resolve. The desert is a precious treasure passed down to us from our ancestors," the man said to the people gathered, "Here we can forge our minds and bodies into one. Our teachers are the sun and wind. We are gathered here today, with our strong bodies forged by the desert. The sun above us is the same as that which burns over our fathers at the front. The wind blowing here is the same as that which whisks our resolve and prayers to our sons at the front. This tournament raises our spirits and renews our blessings from this desert we live in. Brave ones, warriors, fight well and do not shame our brothers at the front."

He paused for a moment then said, "Let the 338th Tournament begin!"

A person raised a hammer and hit the gong that was closeby, causing the people to cheer loudly.

Fei will be fighting soon...I hope he remembers not to beat them too quickly so we can give the young one time to enter the castle and rescue Margie...

The man in the red outfit sighed as he looked at the crowd and the results of the opening speech.

"Hmm.. a moving speech if I do say so myself," he muttered then saw two people coming in.

One was rather tall with pale blonde hair and skin in a rather unusual outfit...that of the Commander of Gebler....he had assumed at first that he was albino, except for the eyes.

"Oh, Commander Ramsus. Sorry to have kept you waiting. This way, please," he said and gestured towards the balcony.

"I'm afraid I do not have the time for such gay revelry. I just dropped by to bid you farewell," the man named Ramsus said rather coldly.

"What a pity. You do not like our entertainment?"

"I find it boring, actually."

The other person with Ramsus, a woman with short indigo hair and purple eyes in a rather unusual white uniform, said with a smile, "Oh, let it be Commander. Shakahn is only trying to show hospitality... I personally find martial arts quite interesting. I look forward to seeing the Tournament."

"To say that this is a tribute to you is no understatement. Your gracious help in our time of need enabled us to celebrate the country's founding today."

Ramsus looked at him with a expresison of disgust and said, "Founding, that is so impudent. It isn't even your country. Hmph, do as you like," before taking off.

"Miang," the man asked, "How about the Tournament? Will you grace us with your company?"

"Yes," Miang said, "It would be a pleasure, Shakkan."

He turned back to the balcony and exclaimed, "Oh, it's starting!"

Below them, the gong sounded again and the announcer called, out, "First match...Gonzalez versus the Wandering Youth!"

Miang watched as a young man with long, brown hair jumped into the ring and said, "My...what a handsome boy!"

******

Citan grinned inwardly as he cheered Fei on, watching the first fight with Gonzalez. Just as he had planned, the crowd around him was getting worked up, but not all the work came from him...the young boy actually was doing quite well, in his opinion.

Within a few minutes, he had defeated the first opponent, although the doctor thought that the match itself went a little fast.

The person beside him said, "Well, doctor, what do you think about women fighters? Think they're as good as us men?"

"Hmm...I would not make a generalization about that, but I do know one or two that can hold their ground quite well," he replied, "Why?"

"The next round involves a newcomer. I've seen her and does she look hot, literally and otherwise! She has an outfit of flame...and a great looking body, too!"

"This should be interesting," Citan said quietly, "Maybe I know her."

The announcer suddenly said, "Now, for the second matchup! Samson versus the Dancing Firebird!"

A young man jumped into the square circle and bowed in quite a respectful manner to the judges and the audience.

"That young man," Citan whispered in quiet shock, "He looks just like...no, it could not be. I saw Timothy be killed by the Gears in Lahan."

A minute later, the young man's opponent leaped into the ring with an unusual type of grace, bowing in the same manner...and a very familiar one at that to the doctor.

He recognized the red outfit the woman had on...and suddenly, he felt very sick and worried at the same time.

Aireel! So this is what she was up to...she is in the Tournament! This may cause serious problems...but what is she thinking?

"Hey, doc...you look sick. Do you know her?" the man beside him asked.

"Well...yes, I do."

"So how good is she at fighting?"

He nodded to himself and simply said, "She is quite good at it," while reminding himself to chew her out about this later.

******

Fei watched from the side as Aireel easily dodged some of the blows, while taking others. He had to admit it, from the way she moved and fought, as well as her outfit, she really did look like a dancing firebird.

Citan's figured it out by now what's happened. He'll probably yell at her or something once this Tournament's over...not that I blame him. He probably sees her as his little sister or such. They sure fight like siblings.

He wasn't paying much attention to Aireel's opponent or he would have seen the same thing that the doctor had.

******

Shakkan and Miang watched the young woman take down Samson with wide eyes, although the young woman's were wider and she seemed unusualy pale. I know I've seen her before somewhere...

"The winner of the second match, the Dancing Firebird!" the announced declared below them, bringing about many cheers.

The balding man looked at her and asked, "What's wrong, Miang? You look like you've seen a ghost."

She said, "It's nothing," while thinking, It can't be! The Emperor said that she had died years ago. But if that's her, I'd like to know what she's been doing all this time.

"If you'll excuse me a moment, I'll have a chat with that girl," she said, "I'll be right back," and took off.

******

Aireel smiled a little to herself as she leaped off of the ring and onto the ground, although she was a bit worried as to what would happen now that the others knew she was in the Tournament.

Fei will probably just look at me weird, but I can bet that Hyu will be chewing me out to Solaris and back, she thought and started walking towards the inner spectator's row.

"It'll be a while before my next match," she said to herself as she approached Citan, putting on a carefree grin.

"I see you're really working the crowd, as you said," she added out loud.

"Perhaps so. Aireel, what in blazes do you think you are doing? This little stunt of yours can easily destroy Fei's chances of keeping the guards occupied while the young one rescues the Great Mother," he said to her in a low angry tone.

"Relax. If anything, it will keep the guards really busy. Besides, I can easily hold my own. The real thing to worry about is up in that balcony."

"How so?"

"When I jumped off to come see you, I saw Shakkan up there, but there was also someone else that we both know."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Tall lady, indigo hair and eyes, looks innocent but isn't," she described and watched as the blood drained out of his face.

"You do not mean--" he started to ask.

She nodded and they both said at the same time, "Miang."

"Did she recognize you?"

"I don't think she even saw me, but...I'd rather stay on Solaris' deceased list a little while longer."

He nodded and said, "Do not think that you are off the hook with this, though. Why did you not at least tell us what you were planning?"

She looked bemused and asked, "Is this what it's about, me not telling anyone I was in the Tournament? If I had told you, would you have let me join in?"

He nodded to himself and said, "It does not matter, the damage is already done," then saw the woman in question walking towards them.

"Well, well, well...look who we have here! I never thought I'd see you down here, Hyuga," Miang said, "And you...I thought that only Lambs lived on the surface, not ghosts...Aireel."

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about," Aireel said, "Who is this woman, dear?"

Citan inwardly felt embarrassed at Aireel's guise and choice of words but went along with it, saying, "An old friend from a long time ago. Nothing to worry about at all, sweetheart."

Miang said coldly, "Cut the guise, Aireel, I know who you are. Nobody on this planet has the exact same hair color that you have. And Hyuga, what brings you down here?"

"A family, friends and this Tournament," he simply replied and put an arm around Aireel's shoulders.

"Whatever...I don't have time now to be dealing with you two, but keep in mind that neither of you are off the hook," Miang remarked, "Although I had this sneaking feeling you two would marry..."

Aireel turned beet red while Citan harumphed at that.

"Now, I must get back to the Balcony. Kahr's here, you know," the strange woman said to the doctor, "Oh, and Aireel...once you-know-who finds out that you're here, he'll certainly come after you for more experiments."

As she took off, Citan turned to Aireel, the irritation and anger fading when he saw that she had suddenly turned deathly pale and was shaking.

"Hey," the man that was sitting beside Citan said, "She better sit down. Looks like she's going to faint."

He quickly helped her to a seat and asked, "What is wrong? I know you have not met Kahr before..."

"I-it's not that...blast it, twenty years later and I'm still afraid of...Kre..him," she said, "I still can't say his name without thinking about then."

"Do not worry. He is not getting his hands on you again, I will make sure of that," he said to her in a low whisper, "Sit here for a while. Fei's next battle will be soon, and your next one will not be for some time."

******

Fei looked at the inner spectator's row, seeing Citan working the crowd, as he said he would do...but he also saw Aireel sitting beside him and she didn't look well at all.

Is she getting sick again? No...looks more like something spooked her, and bad. I wonder what happened, he thought and saw the doctor put a protective arm around her.

Come to think of it, doc seems a bit upset, too...maybe I better go over there and ask what's going on, he added to himself but before he could, he saw that the current match was almost over.

He quickly grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and started writing something. As soon as he was done, he read it over:

Citan,

Is something wrong? Aireel looks pale. Hope you're not too mad at her.

Fei.

He then gave the paper to one of the people close to the fence separating the ring from the inner row and asked, "Could you please give this to the guy sitting next to the Dancing Firebird? He's wearing green and has a weird pair of glasses on."

"Sure thing," the person said and passed the note to Citan.

Right then, the announcer called out, "Now, the second set of matches! First up is the Wandering Youth versus Big Joe!"

At this, the entire crowd around them started roaring and Fei knew it was time for him to face what Aireel had called "the loudmouth".

As he jumped back into the ring, he saw a rather strange man with green hair in an extravagant red suit pose and say, "It's Joe time!"

******

Bart sputtered when water got in his face and mouth as he finally arrived at the strange inner room that he had been told about when he got information about the waterworks below the city.

Though I had to play hide and seek with that kid from the armor store to get it...at least I managed to find his hiding places. But really, someone my age playing a kid's game? he thought.

As soon as he fully swam into the room, a voice from above startled him.

"What!? Playing in the reservoir again? Get up out of there now, boy!"

Bart quickly obeyed, wondering for a minute if he knew this guy.

He does sound a bit familiar....aha! Now I recognize him, that rambler in the palace...

"Kid, how many times must I tell you," the old man continued, then peered at Bart closely.

"Something wrong?" the young pirate asked.

"Hmm? How many years has it been? Well, haven't you grown up? Are you really the child I used to play hide-and-seek with? Is this some sort of joke...? Well, answer me!?"

"What're you babblin' on about? Old man, even back when I was a child you used to ramble on and on. But I see it's gotten a lot worse."

That made the old man rather angry as he snapped, "What!? Ramble!? Did you say I rambled on!? Why you little brat! The only people who I ever allowed to call be a rambler were my late mother and the young prince. His Highness...what was his name?"

"You mean his Highness 'Prince Bartholomew'," he said with a little smile.

"Yes, his Highness Prince Bartholomew! Boy, you certainly know alot. If Bartholomew was still alive he'd be just about your age..."

After a moment of silence, the rambler sighed and said, "Did you know that both he and his family were killed by that Shakkan? You won't beat me, Shakkan. I'll protect Aveh's water till I die. In rememberance of the kindess of the king and the young prince."

At least more than one person's still loyal to the old rule and not that idiot Shakkan's. In a place like this, it's good to hear.

"Really? Thanks, old man. Father would be glad."

The old rambler raised an eyebrow and asked, "Whaddya mean, father? Are you the son of an aquaintance of mine? Wait wait, I remember... ! No, no, that's not it. I don't recall the king having any secret sons."

"Sorry, I don't have time to explain. You'll remember soon. See ya!" Bart said and climbed a ladder near the wall to the outside.

******

Citan and Aireel grinned and cheered Fei on as he continued to give a pounding to Big Joe, who was getting plenty of help from the audience by giving him cheers that seemed to heal him somewhat, and by throwing things at Fei once in a while.

"Can't expect the crowd to root for him much this time," Aireel said quietly to him at one point.

"That is true, most of them are fans of Big Joe. I can see why you called him a loudmouth. Where did you meet him?"

"While we were in Dazil when you took off in the buggy. Fei and I waited an hour before looking for you, so we went to the Tavern and...there he was, drinking his head off with a pair of scavangers."

He nodded and looked at her, relieved that she was looking better than when Miang had confronted them...and threatened her.

He quickly wrote something on the piece of paper that had been handed to him a while back and then handed it to the person with almost inaudible instructions.

This is Aireel's and my business, not Fei's.

"Are you okay, Hyu?" she asked quietly.

"I am more worried about you right now."

"Don't be, I'll be okay for a while. Fei's doing really well against that loudmouth nutcase, I see," she said with a grin.

Citan couldn't help but laugh a little and think, She is fine.

A guard came up to them and said, "Dancing Firebird? Your match is next, so please follow me."

She nodded and said, "I'm on my way. Hey, root for me a little, okay?" and squeezed Citan's hand.

He looked at her strangely, nodded, and said, "I will."

Right at that moment, Fei delivered an uppercut that sent Big Joe sprawling to the floor, bringing the ones supporting the young man to their feet, cheering.

******

As soon as Fei jumped from the ring, the same soldier that delivered the previous note gave it back to him, saying, "The reply's on the back."

He looked on the back of the paper and read:

Aireel is fine right now, it is nothing you should be concerned about. Concentrate on the tournament.

Citan.

He grumbled something to himself about the doctor acting strangely and listened as the announcer called out, "Next match! It's Banderman versus the Dancing Firebird! How will the newest fiery lady fare in this matchup?"

He looked on as Aireel jumped into the ring with her usual grace...but now there was a dark scowl on her usually cheery-but-serious face.

What's gotten into her?

******

Both Aireel and her opponent, an average height, muscular man with red hair got into the ring, though she was visibly fuming at who she would fight.

They bowed to the judges, as appropriate, then began as soon as the gong rang to begin.

"Blast it, Banderman," she hissed as she delivered a blow, "What are you doing here? I thought you were on the ship headed for the Lahan region!"

"Change of orders, Commander," he replied, using a sweeping kick that she side-stepped, "I was told to attend the Tournament and to gain information on the castle's strategy, weaknesses and such."

"On whose authority? There's only supposed to be one spy in the Bledavik region!"

"I know, but on the unofficial records, you're not here as a spy. Kaiser's orders," he replied, getting in a couple of punches, "Sorry, Commander Belsanas."

"I'll have a talk with the Kaiser if and when I return to Nortune."

"With all due respect, Kaiser Sigmund also wants a word with you about the General and a few other things."

She got in a punch to the ribs and said, "I'll return and chat with him when I'm good and ready to."

"You know, if it were somebody else that didn't know exactly what you are, you'd seem...well...like a deserter. You should be more careful."

She nodded and did a sweep-kick of her own, saying, "Noted. Well, we'd better draw this conversation to a close."

He nodded and fell as a result of the sweep-kick and took in a hard uppercut, getting the K.O.

The announcer said, after a moment, "The winner of the match is the fiery darling, Dancing Firebird!"

She turned to the audience and grinned as she saw and heard Citan cheering her.

******

Fei, Citan and Aireel stood in the inner spectator's row near the gate to the ring and watched the remainder of the second round matches happen in front of them.

"Worried about Bart, doc?" Fei asked.

"Not at...actually, I am a little, but I am more concerned about a few things that happened here."

"Like whatever it was that spooked Aireel?"

"Yes..."

Aireel saw that that topic bothered Citan and quickly said, "Ah, you're doing pretty good, Fei. Especially sending that loudmouth to the moon and back..."

Fei chuckled at that and said, "He won't be mouthing off for a while, that's for sure."

"That may be so, you two," Citan interjected, "But what will you do of both of you make it to the semi-finals?"

"Doc, don't worry! I'll bet one of us will be out long before then," Fei said to him.

Aireel simply replied with a slight tone of anger, "Dumbhead! The semi's are coming up after this next set! And don't you dare tell me to throw myself out because I won't."

The doctor shook his head and said, "And Fei would not either..."

That comment brought down the morale by a few degrees as they wondered just how they would fix the mess that had been started when Aireel joined the Tournament.