Written by- Shinsei (shinseistudio@yahoo.com) and Yuriko (kimino_girl@hotmail.com) All characters and ideas belong to their respective owners.
Hitomi makes her way back to the Asturian castle, and on her way she sees Allen. He is about to board the Crusade when he sees her from the corner of his eye. The look of astonishment goes over his face as Hitomi limp runs to him and they embrace.
"Where have you been?" he asks.
She replies by saying, "I've been to the outskirts and back,"
"But why did you go?" asks Allen, but since Hitomi seemed a bit distraught at the question, he apologizes, understanding that it must have been about Van. He picks her up, and carries her to the healer on board the Crusade. As Allen makes his way out of the infirmary, Hitomi asks him where they are headed.
"We're headed toward the Zaibach fortress to seize an enemy base, and our second stop should be at Fanelia to.." as Allen mentions Fanelia Hitomi interrupts him with a forlorn look of depression.
At that moment, Hitomi has a vision of Van and Dilandau. "No!" she exclaims, not wanting to believe what she is witnessing.
"What did you see?" asks Allen, with a look of concern.
"Van and Dilandau were in a fight, and I don't think it'll turn out very good.." Hitomi says while wincing at the thoughts to what could happen. Allen rushes to the bridge and tells Gadees to turn around and head for Fanelia at top speed. The crew of the Crusade is under tension, trying to do as they were commanded at such a short notice. The Crusade is at top speed, almost hitting the sides of the canyon.
Meanwhile, at Vione, Dilandau gathers his new troop of Slayers and tells them of his new mission. After the brief, he tells them they should get going and all of them start to whine. Dilandau gets pretty ticked and knocks out one of the nearest ones. After seeing this, the Slayers scramble from their places and start to pick up their belongings, running into each other and making a big mess. Dilandau makes his way to the hangar where the new Alsides is waiting. He heads out of the hanger, putting on the camouflage constructed by Folken. The Slayers follow in turn after their leader.
In Fanelia, Van is talking to his new generals about warfare and the conditions of their remaining troops. While discussing with his generals, a messenger from one of the outlooks tells Van about the return of Dilandau and his Slayers. Van then summons his somewhat trained knights and generals to aid him in the battle.
Van goes out onto the field in Escaflowne and commands his generals to hold a defensive stance at the entrance of the Fanelian border. Dilandau smiles, and then in the distance, the Crusade is spotted by one of his Slayers. Van uses the dowsing technique Hitomi taught him to see through his rival's stealth cloaks. He strikes one of the Slayers across the visor, knocking the Zaibach guymelef to the ground. Allen leaps out of the Crusade in his guymelef, Scherade, coming to aid Van in his battle against the Zaibach. One by one, each of the slayers are defeated, leaving Dilandau outnumbered. Hitomi, aiding Allen on the shoulder of the Schezade, falls off and Dilandau seeks his advantage by charging towards Allen with a crima claw. Van counterattacks with Escaflowne's sword, saving Allen from a severe blow. The two weapons clash together, expelling sparks as they intercept. Allen, seeing the young Fanelian king getting ready for his final blow, gets behind Dilandau and stuns him with the broadside of his sword. With Dilandau knocked out, Van opens the cockpit of Escaflowne and leaps out. He goes to Hitomi and picks her up hoping she wasn't severely hurt. Dilandau is taken to the dungeon by the generals, and his guymelef, the Alsides, is inspected at a hangar. Hitomi is taken to the infirmary and is treated for her wounds. Van stands next to her bed, blaming himself for her condition. Allen walks in and tells Van that everything will be fine.
"Thank you," says Van. Now assured at his comrade's words.
After two days, Hitomi has recovered from her injuries. She goes to Van's study to talk to him. She finds him at his desk, looking over a few documents before sending them to the addressed recipients. She walks up to him. Making sure not to disturb him. She finds a seat and waits for him to finish.
"Hi Hitomi, nice to see you up and about," says Van after putting the letters in his desk.
"Where is Dilandau?" Hitomi asks out of curiosity.
"He is in the dungeon where he belongs," he remarks, "and don't even think of going down there without me, or a proper escort." Hitomi nods seeing he only wants her to be protected from his rival.
When dinner is finished and everyone starts to depart from the dining hall, Merle asks Hitomi if she would like to take a stroll in the Garden.
"I don't see why not," Hitomi replies. Wondering what silly idea has gotten into her head.
During their walk, Hitomi tells Merle about Dilandau and his connection with Celena and Allen. After her explanation, Merle asks her why she doesn't go down to the dungeon and revert him back to Celena.
"I'm sure you know Van doesn't want me down there," Hitomi retorts.
"If he doesn't know, then how will he find you there?" asks Merle with a sly smile going across her face.
"What do you have in mind?" asks Hitomi.
"If I distract the guards, you'll have a chance to get to Dilandau's cell," Merle replies. "Do you really think that will work?" Hitomi asks.
"Sure it will," and with that, Merle scampers off towards the castle with Hitomi following behind.
Merle has taken Hitomi to the dungeon through an old passage that hasn't been in use since the days of old. Once inside, Merle instructs Hitomi to stay hidden until she returns. A few moments later, Merle returns with the keys to the cell in hand and motions for Hitomi to follow.
"How did you get those?" Hitomi asks out of curiosity.
"I put the guard to sleep with some sleeping powder," exclaims Merle, " it was easy!"
As the two near Dilandau's cell, a smirk is seen upon his face.
"Why Hitomi, nice to see you here, but why visit me at a time such as this?"
"I came to see you because I know you aren't a bad person, and I'll do what I can to prove it to you." replies Hitomi.
Dilandau retorts with his smirk growing to a full toothed grin. "I'd like to hear it. It might give me a few insights to what you really know about me."
"First of all, you aren't who you think you are. You really aren't the leader of anythng, and you have a family that truely cares about you. Don't you remember?"
"No, I have no clue to what your talking about."
"Dilandau, don't you even remember helping me near the outskirts of Palas?"
"No, I don't remember that, but I do remember someone, a person... a girl. I scared her and she ended up damaging herself trying to flee from me. Who was that girl? She looks so familiar, but her description is vague in my memory."
"That was me! You do remember after all," exclaims Hitomi.
"That was you?" he asks, his brow rising.
"Yes, I have the bruise to prove it," Hitomi says, and shows him the ankle she landed on after she fell.
"So it was you. It was you who helped me through my pasts' vision. It was you that helped me see the true happenings of my past," his eyes widening with each sentence.
Just then, the clamoring of footsteps are heard, and Van and Allen enter. The look on Van's face was look of astonishment and disappointment. Allen on the other hand, has stopped dead in his tracks to see the face of Dilandau look as it did. Seeing the disappointment clearly expressed on Van's face, Merle starts to defend Hitomi, and tells him it was her idea. Dilandau starts to say something and falls to the ground as if in great pain.
"What's wrong?" Hitomi asks.
Dilandau looks up to her. All of them gasp at the sight. His hair has changed to a sandy blonde, his facial features have gone to those of a girl.
"Celena!" Allen exclaims, overjoyed to see his younger sister once again.
At once, Merle unlocks the cell and releases her. The two siblings embrace, a moment that will be cherished in their memory for a lifetime.
"Welcome back," Hitomi says with a smile.
"I'm sure your probably exhausted and would like to change out of that outfit," inputs Merle.
"Why yes, that would be a most appreciative thing to do," Celena replies.
Sorry for the abrupt halt to the first chapter, but the wait will truly be worth it. Please R&R, the messages will be greatly apriciated and the more there are, the faster the chapters will come.
Hitomi makes her way back to the Asturian castle, and on her way she sees Allen. He is about to board the Crusade when he sees her from the corner of his eye. The look of astonishment goes over his face as Hitomi limp runs to him and they embrace.
"Where have you been?" he asks.
She replies by saying, "I've been to the outskirts and back,"
"But why did you go?" asks Allen, but since Hitomi seemed a bit distraught at the question, he apologizes, understanding that it must have been about Van. He picks her up, and carries her to the healer on board the Crusade. As Allen makes his way out of the infirmary, Hitomi asks him where they are headed.
"We're headed toward the Zaibach fortress to seize an enemy base, and our second stop should be at Fanelia to.." as Allen mentions Fanelia Hitomi interrupts him with a forlorn look of depression.
At that moment, Hitomi has a vision of Van and Dilandau. "No!" she exclaims, not wanting to believe what she is witnessing.
"What did you see?" asks Allen, with a look of concern.
"Van and Dilandau were in a fight, and I don't think it'll turn out very good.." Hitomi says while wincing at the thoughts to what could happen. Allen rushes to the bridge and tells Gadees to turn around and head for Fanelia at top speed. The crew of the Crusade is under tension, trying to do as they were commanded at such a short notice. The Crusade is at top speed, almost hitting the sides of the canyon.
Meanwhile, at Vione, Dilandau gathers his new troop of Slayers and tells them of his new mission. After the brief, he tells them they should get going and all of them start to whine. Dilandau gets pretty ticked and knocks out one of the nearest ones. After seeing this, the Slayers scramble from their places and start to pick up their belongings, running into each other and making a big mess. Dilandau makes his way to the hangar where the new Alsides is waiting. He heads out of the hanger, putting on the camouflage constructed by Folken. The Slayers follow in turn after their leader.
In Fanelia, Van is talking to his new generals about warfare and the conditions of their remaining troops. While discussing with his generals, a messenger from one of the outlooks tells Van about the return of Dilandau and his Slayers. Van then summons his somewhat trained knights and generals to aid him in the battle.
Van goes out onto the field in Escaflowne and commands his generals to hold a defensive stance at the entrance of the Fanelian border. Dilandau smiles, and then in the distance, the Crusade is spotted by one of his Slayers. Van uses the dowsing technique Hitomi taught him to see through his rival's stealth cloaks. He strikes one of the Slayers across the visor, knocking the Zaibach guymelef to the ground. Allen leaps out of the Crusade in his guymelef, Scherade, coming to aid Van in his battle against the Zaibach. One by one, each of the slayers are defeated, leaving Dilandau outnumbered. Hitomi, aiding Allen on the shoulder of the Schezade, falls off and Dilandau seeks his advantage by charging towards Allen with a crima claw. Van counterattacks with Escaflowne's sword, saving Allen from a severe blow. The two weapons clash together, expelling sparks as they intercept. Allen, seeing the young Fanelian king getting ready for his final blow, gets behind Dilandau and stuns him with the broadside of his sword. With Dilandau knocked out, Van opens the cockpit of Escaflowne and leaps out. He goes to Hitomi and picks her up hoping she wasn't severely hurt. Dilandau is taken to the dungeon by the generals, and his guymelef, the Alsides, is inspected at a hangar. Hitomi is taken to the infirmary and is treated for her wounds. Van stands next to her bed, blaming himself for her condition. Allen walks in and tells Van that everything will be fine.
"Thank you," says Van. Now assured at his comrade's words.
After two days, Hitomi has recovered from her injuries. She goes to Van's study to talk to him. She finds him at his desk, looking over a few documents before sending them to the addressed recipients. She walks up to him. Making sure not to disturb him. She finds a seat and waits for him to finish.
"Hi Hitomi, nice to see you up and about," says Van after putting the letters in his desk.
"Where is Dilandau?" Hitomi asks out of curiosity.
"He is in the dungeon where he belongs," he remarks, "and don't even think of going down there without me, or a proper escort." Hitomi nods seeing he only wants her to be protected from his rival.
When dinner is finished and everyone starts to depart from the dining hall, Merle asks Hitomi if she would like to take a stroll in the Garden.
"I don't see why not," Hitomi replies. Wondering what silly idea has gotten into her head.
During their walk, Hitomi tells Merle about Dilandau and his connection with Celena and Allen. After her explanation, Merle asks her why she doesn't go down to the dungeon and revert him back to Celena.
"I'm sure you know Van doesn't want me down there," Hitomi retorts.
"If he doesn't know, then how will he find you there?" asks Merle with a sly smile going across her face.
"What do you have in mind?" asks Hitomi.
"If I distract the guards, you'll have a chance to get to Dilandau's cell," Merle replies. "Do you really think that will work?" Hitomi asks.
"Sure it will," and with that, Merle scampers off towards the castle with Hitomi following behind.
Merle has taken Hitomi to the dungeon through an old passage that hasn't been in use since the days of old. Once inside, Merle instructs Hitomi to stay hidden until she returns. A few moments later, Merle returns with the keys to the cell in hand and motions for Hitomi to follow.
"How did you get those?" Hitomi asks out of curiosity.
"I put the guard to sleep with some sleeping powder," exclaims Merle, " it was easy!"
As the two near Dilandau's cell, a smirk is seen upon his face.
"Why Hitomi, nice to see you here, but why visit me at a time such as this?"
"I came to see you because I know you aren't a bad person, and I'll do what I can to prove it to you." replies Hitomi.
Dilandau retorts with his smirk growing to a full toothed grin. "I'd like to hear it. It might give me a few insights to what you really know about me."
"First of all, you aren't who you think you are. You really aren't the leader of anythng, and you have a family that truely cares about you. Don't you remember?"
"No, I have no clue to what your talking about."
"Dilandau, don't you even remember helping me near the outskirts of Palas?"
"No, I don't remember that, but I do remember someone, a person... a girl. I scared her and she ended up damaging herself trying to flee from me. Who was that girl? She looks so familiar, but her description is vague in my memory."
"That was me! You do remember after all," exclaims Hitomi.
"That was you?" he asks, his brow rising.
"Yes, I have the bruise to prove it," Hitomi says, and shows him the ankle she landed on after she fell.
"So it was you. It was you who helped me through my pasts' vision. It was you that helped me see the true happenings of my past," his eyes widening with each sentence.
Just then, the clamoring of footsteps are heard, and Van and Allen enter. The look on Van's face was look of astonishment and disappointment. Allen on the other hand, has stopped dead in his tracks to see the face of Dilandau look as it did. Seeing the disappointment clearly expressed on Van's face, Merle starts to defend Hitomi, and tells him it was her idea. Dilandau starts to say something and falls to the ground as if in great pain.
"What's wrong?" Hitomi asks.
Dilandau looks up to her. All of them gasp at the sight. His hair has changed to a sandy blonde, his facial features have gone to those of a girl.
"Celena!" Allen exclaims, overjoyed to see his younger sister once again.
At once, Merle unlocks the cell and releases her. The two siblings embrace, a moment that will be cherished in their memory for a lifetime.
"Welcome back," Hitomi says with a smile.
"I'm sure your probably exhausted and would like to change out of that outfit," inputs Merle.
"Why yes, that would be a most appreciative thing to do," Celena replies.
Sorry for the abrupt halt to the first chapter, but the wait will truly be worth it. Please R&R, the messages will be greatly apriciated and the more there are, the faster the chapters will come.