-1"What another village?" Van stood up and slammed the table.

Allen sat to his left, he had come to Fanelia with Celena to discuss the attacks on the villages on Fanelia's border and those in neighbouring countries. Over the past two years he had seen Van grow in strength, maturity and knowledge but he was still a young king, still innocent.

"Yes sire. Some merchants reported it this morning." Tristan the main advisor stared sternly at his king. "We need to take action and on the subject of marriage…"

Van froze.

"Everyone is talking about you, you are gone past the age. You should have been married the day you brought the dragon energist back to the kingdom."

"Enough!" shouted Van and he turned to walk out.

"Your majesty!"

"I need some air!"
Van slammed the door as he left. Allen stared after him with worried eyes, once he had left he closed his eyes and blurred out the impatient chatter of Van's advisors. "Just bring her back Van," he whispered.

"Lord Van?" As usual Merel was waiting patiently outside the door. She hopped over to his side as soon as he came out.

"I heard what he said Lord Van, don't listen to him. Everyone loves you it doesn't matter if you get married."

"I…I need her here Merel." Van clenched his fists. "I need her."

Merel sighed "Oh Lord Van I'm sure wha…. Look Lord Van!" Merel shouted and pointed at the vague glow coming from Hitomi's pendant.

Van gasped "What's wrong with it?

Merel giggled and jumped around him, "She must be coming back Lord Van! She must be!"

Van smiled and held the pendant in his hand, "Do you think so?"

Merel nodded frantically "Of course Lord Van! She must want to come back to us!"

Van smiled and closed his eyes "Come back Hitomi."

"Oh no." whispered Merel sadly "It's fading."

Van's eyes flickered open "What?"

"Your majesty I'm sorry but we must continue our discussion."

Van glanced down at the pendant just as it returned to its usual colour.

"I'm coming. This might take awhile Merel."

"Ok Lord Van I'll go wait outside."

Van nodded, his eyes were dark and vacant as he walked slowly through the door.

Merel stood rigid on the floor until he had gone in, once he was inside she darted out toward the pond in the centre of the castle grounds.

The wind pieced Hitomi's skin as she ran. She darted past houses, banks and some shops. As she turned swiftly to the left her old school came into view.

"It hasn't changed a bit." she thought.

She ran quickly toward the track, she was smiling and almost breathless when she reached the familiar grounds.

The moon shimmered over her body as she thought of college, her mother and Yukari and the brief goodbye she said at her father's grave. She regretted that she couldn't say goodbye properly to them but the notes would have to suffice. She had to see him, she couldn't wait until morning.

Hitomi shook her head and cleared her mind of earthly thoughts. She checked the contents of her duffel bag, confirming that she had what she needed she raced forward and thought of Gaea.

Gaea. The world where the earth and its moon hang in the sky, the world of vast fields glorious cities and sparkling oceans. The world of unusual creatures, of guymelefs, flying machines that use levi stones to soar into the sky. The world where her friends are, where Van is.

"Please?" she yelled "Take me back to Gaea! Back to Van!"

Van fiddled with the pendant as his advisors spoke. He rolled it between his thumb and index finger and thought of Hitomi, hoping she would come to Gaea. They had not spoken in the last two years, he had desperately to communicate somehow but never succeeded, but it did not stop him caring for her and loving her. "I'll never forget you even when I'm old." Van smiled as he recalled her words.

"Van?" whispered Allen as he nudged his arm.

Van jolted and his eyes widened the advisors sat with their arms folded and eyes glaring.

"You need to focus your majesty."
"Yes ah…. Sorry." Van fumbled in his seat quickly hid the pendant behind his red shirt and sat straight.

"Perhaps you are still too young to take on the responsibility of being king."

Allen gasped "Van is more than capable of…"
"Sire your…your shirt I…it is glowing!"

Van quickly grabbed the pendant and stared as it glowed brightly.

Allen shot up, "What is happening Van? Is she coming back?"
"I don't know." replied Van, "I hope so."

"VAN! Take me back!"

A great spire of blue light enveloped Hitomi as she roared to the skies. She gasped as she was lifted into the air, she smiled but it quickly turned into crazy laughter. "I'm coming back Van! I'm coming back to Gaea!"