Escaflowne
Chapter III
Was it all just dream...or maybe a vision? No it was real....The giants that attacked Fanelia set Allen's fort aflame. Yes, my vision became reality again. The giants flew into the sky and attacked us. Van then somehow changed Escaflowne into a dragon and flew away to let us escape...
The Mark of Brothers
Will yourself to stand ready
and courageous on the battlefield.
In this way, all that is difficult
or dangerous will be yours.
Dilandau and the Dragonslayers chase after Van.
"Come on," Dilandou shouted, "You'd better fly faster or we'll catch up with you."
He aims his arm and shoots a blob of hot liquid metal at Van, but missed narrowly.
"Try this on for size," He fires again and hits Escaflowne. Van finds it hard to regain balance.
"Damn, I'm hit!" Van shouted, and Escaflowne transforms back into it's regular form and lands on the ground. It gets hit multiple times in the back. Dilandau and the others land and turn invisible. "Bastards... They hid themselves again. So...where are you Dilandou..."
Footsteps are seen in the ground as Dilandau steps towards him. Van looked left and right, but couldn't see anything, and then,
"What!?" Van was caught by two claws and was stuck."Damn it!"
Dilandou decloaks in front of him.
"I've got ya O king of Fanelia," Dilandou said mocking Van, "Van...I think that is your name...You set yourself as a decoy so the others could escape...well you know that I just CAN'T stand heroics!"
He punches Escaflowne's chest, and then the sides and then the stomach.
"In fact I hate'em!" Van looks up and Dilandou punches his face plate and knocks him out," He's down already?"
"Dilandou!" Fulcan's voice shouted from the comm."What do you think you're doing, I said to take him alive."
"I was just playing around, Statagos."
The Floating Fortress approaches from behind him.
Later on, a group of goats watch as the Crusade and the Enterprize passes over where Van was captured.
"Flames...I can see flames!" Pyle said
"Can you see the remains of a Melef?" Allen asked
"None detected,"
"Do you suppose Van would be..." Merle started to say, but Allen reasure them.
"No. I'm pretty sure they won't kill Van. They say that only the King of Fanelia is the only one who can operate the Escaflowne."
"Don't worry. We'll save him." Gadess said
"I want to pay them back." Teo said
"I can't cool down myself down at this rate." Pyle said
"That's right." Reeden said
"I'll kill them all." Kio added
"Sir, what do you think?" Gadess
"How many are we, Jayson?" Allen asked
"There are 20 here...including me, and the Enterprize has about 35..."
"Hmmm, so a head on assault against the fortress would be next to impossible,"
"Yes, it would be...and there isn't enough munition on the Enterprize to damage the fortress much. I wish I can call in a couple of cruisars, but we are too far a distant to establish contact with-" Jayson was interrupted by Hitomi.
"Excuse me, Allen...I might be able to find out where Van is."
"You did predicted their attack on our fort, but..."
"Yes and it wasn't a coincidence. I can feel it. I've been able to guess things right since I was little, and... I'm not sure, but my ability seems to be getting stronger."
"Even so, this is work for us knights. You understand, right?" Allen starts to move away.
"Then, why don't you test me? Please...."
Meanwhile, the Floating Fortress hides in a crater filled with Levi-Stones. Multiple Guymelefs fly out of it.
"I've sent search and destroy units out..." Dilandou said to Folken as they walk towards Escaflowne, "They can't go back to their home country, so we don't have to hide here anymore."
"You'd better be careful. Why don't we wait for their report?"
"You're cautious, as usual," They reach Escaflowne. "Now, a piece of our future is secured. Let's just drag the knight out of it and destroy the thing."
"I cannot allow that."
"Why not? "
"Not until we find out why...this is a threat to our future....Now do you understand Dilandou?"
He cuts his finger with his sword and places his hand on Escaflowne's energist. The cockpit opens and Van falls out.
"It..it's him!" Dilandou said as he remembers Van's face the first time they met.
"Yes...Fanelia's new king..."
Elsewhere, three Guymelefs fly over Crusade and Enterprize, hiding under a cliff and don't notice it.
"Don, Those things are making me nervous." Teo said as he makes repairs.
Hitomi and Allen sit at a table. Merle and Gadess watch. She deals some Tarot cards on the table. Kio, Pyle and Paile watch from outside. Jayson leans on the doorway and watches.
"Hey, will she be able to tell our boss's past?" Paile asked
"Shhh, I'm trying to listen," Pyle said
"(gasp)" Hitomi opens her eyes very suddenly, as she sees all for the moment, "This is the card of Il Pazio. Selfish life... eccentric action... This card tells of your father's personality. His shadow covered and haunts your family, a family divided...." Allen's eyes twitched as though he was hurt.
"So..is she right?" Paile asked
"How should I know. He doesn't like to talk about his past."
"She's right," Jason said in his head, "Selena's disappearence. His mother's death...He blames his father for it all..."
"Well, continue..." Allen said
"What should I do?" Hitmoi said in her head, "He seems angry. Did I say something bad? But I have to make him believe me."
"Something wrong, Hitomi?" Jayson asked
"Ummm, nothing..."
"She's such a terrible lier," Jason said in his head
"No...Just say it." Hitomi said in her head then spoke outloud, "Il Guidizio is the card of judgement. In the near future, you might see your father again. But because you adhere to the past, your grudge...A...and this card..."
Hitomi's hand shakes as she points to a card and she tries to get a hold of herself, and then Allen grabs it.
"Thank you, Hitomi....that's enough." Allen signals Gadess to get something.
"Umm... did I...?" Allen puts the map Gadess got him on the table.
"You passed...now find out where Van is."
"Ok..."
In a cold dark room, lit by a single candle that burns blue flames....Someone was whistling a softm sweet tune. The tune wakes up Van, who was on a bed. He hears it and thinks back to when Fanelia was whole. It reminded him of home....but then realized where he is and jumps up.
"Who are you?!" Van shouted, "How did you know that Fanelia song!"
It was Folken, who stood up and faced Van. Van sees his sword on the table, then runs and grab it. He draws it and then gets in an attack position.
"OK, now take me to my Guymelef, now!"
Folken chuckles a bit.
"Do you think a soldier of Zaibach would give in to such threat? You can't escape this floating fortress, Van."
"If I have to be a pawn to survive then-" Van moves his sword to his neck to kill himself, but Folken quickly drew his own sword and knocks Van's sword away,
"You shouldn't take your life lightly." Folken removes his cape and shirt. Then, black angel wings came out of his back.
"B...Brother..."
Back on the Crusade, Hitomi swings her pendant over the map.
"I wonder if she can find him with stuff like that-" Gadess asked, but Merle shut him up.
"Shhh..."
"Well, in our life, whatever comes out will come out." Jayson said
Meanwhile, back on the floating fortress.
"It's been a while, Van. It's been ten years, hasn't it?"
"I never believe that my brother ran away from his inauguration. That he fought the dragon and was killed...that he never turned his back to the enemy, and fought until the end....But I was wrong! Why are you with Zaibach?! Why did you burn Fanelia?! Answer me, Brother!(Folken laughs a bit) What's so funny? Don't laugh!"
Van grabs Folken's shoulder, but Folken grabbed back and holded him tight.
"Yes, I failed to defeat the dragon and I still live," We see a flashback of Folken fight the dragon and lost,"Van come with me and serve Dornkirk....the emporior of all Zaiback, there we can set the future back on course."
Back with Hitomi, who continues to swing the pendant over the map.
"Do you want to take a break?"Allen asked as he wiped Hitomi's sweat.
"No. Let me continue. If I... If I only had something of Van-"
"Wait," Merle said and show Hitomi her bandage,"Wha else should we do?"
Merle give her the bandage Van put on her in the last episode.
"Envision him in your mind."
Allen, Hitomi, Merle, and Jayson put their hands on top of each other and flashbacks went through each. First, Hitomi remembers Van back in Fanelia when he got in Escaflowne for the first time. Merle remembers hugging Van after he can back. Allen remembers Van from when his fort was still burning hot, and that he taught Van the lesson of being a knight. Jayson remembers teaching Van how to fight. All their memories of Van led them into the right path, and Hitomi sees a vision of the fortress with Van inside.
"...there..."
"That's where the wandering continents gather." Allen said
"Wandering continents...?"
"Leva stones, they're like the floating rocks that this ship has." Jayson explained,"They are said to be magical, since they defy gravity, but with the science back on Earth....they are simplely large magnet rocks that repel the gravitational pull of this planet."
"That's it. It's the perfect place for that floating fortress to hide." Gadess said,"Since the fortress is just a castle on top of a big rock, it bends in perfectly."
Hitomi smiles, but then passes out.
"Hitomi!" Allen shouted as Jayson grabbed her.
"She's just tired, give her some rest." Jayson said and carried her away.
Meanwhile, back at the floating fortress, Dilandau looks at Escaflowne.
"So this is the great threat to the Zaibach Empire...It's just a stupid antique. Now, how in the world did Folken open this thing." He then slowly puts his hand up to the energist.
Elsewhere, just above the crater where the floating fortress is, the Crusade and the Enterprize nears the fortress. The Enterprize had three rotating turrets, and underneath it, opened up holes that resemble torpedos weapon ports.
Pyle was looking through a teloscope and spots the fortress.
"There it is. Right there. Floating fortress spotted!"
"Alright, heat up the leva stones. Cut the lift and charge at the fortress." Allen commanded.
In the Enterprize, Jayson ordered the same thing.
"Armed all weapons and aimed at the fortress's engine ports!" Jayson ordered and the ship's cannons took aim."Ready stinger launchers one and two!"
"Locked and loaded, sir!" Kyle shouted as two hole on the underside of the Enterprize opens up.
Back in the Crusade.
"Lift's dropped to twenty!" Teo said
"Now! Retract the sails! and Dive!" Allen commanded.
The sails retract and Crusade falls into the crater with the Enterprize following. Dilandau touching Escaflowne and it causes his hand to hurt.
"Aaaaah!!" Then the whole thing created an explosion that made the ship shake.
"What was that?"Folken asked
"Explosion in the hanger, cause unknown."
"We're under attack!"
"What?!"
There were a series of explosion as the Enterprize's cannons hit their targets with percise accuacy. Then, from underneath it, it launches what appears to be primativ looking rockets. The rockets flew straight into the fortress and made big dents on it's lower rock hull.
The Crusade slides against the Floating Fortress.
"Anchor!" Jayson and Allen shouted at the same time. And the anchors of both ships is shot out, connecting the Crusade and the Enterprize to the Floating Fortress.
"Lift regained!" Teo said
"Alright. Cut the wire and then raise the propellors." Then Crusade did that and floated near an opening in the Fortress.
Back in the Enterprize.
"Set stablizers to max! Thrusters in hover mode!" Jayson shouted as the thrusters behind and under the Enterprize moved and pointed down. The Enterprize also nears a hanger opening."Aft docking anchors, fire!"
The Enterprize docks with the fortress and so does the Crusade.
"Alright, let's board them!" Allen shouted as both ships empty all crew and attack.
They charge the Fortress. Allen looks around.
"The enemy!" Gadess shouted
"They've come." Allen said
"Let's do it, guys." Jayson shouted as he drew his sword. Some of his men were carrying strang weapons that looked like sticks with holes in them. They then form up in ranks. "Alright men, take aim!"
The couple of soldiers were actually carrying guns,
"Fire!" A series of explosions from the barrels of the weapons blasted out long bullets at their targets, killing them instantly. "Reload and engage at will!"
Elsewhere, Van listens to the noise from inside his room.
"What the hell's happening?" He said
Back with the battle. Kio takes out multiple soldiers, Pyle is chased by a few, but Reeden takes them out from above. Allen knocks down some guards and Jayson dashed toward a group and plowed through them.
Meanwhile, some of the Dragonslayers wonder what they should do.
"Where's Lord Dilandau?" Gatti asked
"I don't know." Shester said
"We can't move without his orders. Let's split up and find him." They split up.
Allen and Jayson meanwhile takes out four soldiers that were in their way and spots a hangar area.
"Escaflowne!" Jayson shouted and then sees a dragonslayer charge at them.
Allen quickly knocks away the guy's weapon and points his sword at Shester's neck.
"Freeze...that is if you want to live...."
Meanwhile Merle and Hitomi are on the Crusade.
"Allen..." Hitomi said and then she has a vision of Dilandau attacking Van from behind. Hitomi holds her head.
"What's wrong?"
"I saw it."
"Saw what?"
"I have to go."
"Go where?"
"I got to go and warn Van." Hitomi runs to the rear of the ship.
"Hey!" Merle follows.
Van hears his door being unlocked. Shester stands at the door and is knocked out by Allen. Jayson quickly followed.
"So, still alive I see."
"Allen! You came to rescue me?"
"We don't have much time, let's go." Jayson and they ran
Hitomi looks over the gap from the Crusade to the Floating Fortress and thinks to herself.
"It looks five... No, almost six meters."
"Hitomi! Hitomi! What're you gonna do?" Hitomi removes her jacket and throws it to Merle.
"Hold this. I'm going to jump over there. My broad jump record is five meters and forty. Alright."
"What're you thinking? There's no way you can jump that. It's too far. You'll die if you fall. You'll become flat mush. You-!" Hitomi gets ready and starts running. "Hey!"
Hitomi reaches toward the end of the road and jumped over, and then after what seems to go on forever, Hitomi reached the otherside and fell to the ground on the other side of the gap.
"I made it!" She got back up and ran.
"She's...one weird girl..."
Hitomi runs down a series of dark hallways, making random turns that seems to lead her the right way. A look of worry enshroud her face.
"I have to tell him as soon as possible." She said in her head.
Hitomi runs as Allen, Jayson, and Van make their way to the hangar.
"Escaflowne is that way. Jayson, Van go. I'll take care of these."
"Right, come on Van." Van runs first into the hangar followed by Jayson, just as Hitomi makes it there.
"There he is," Hitomi said. Hitomi is about to call out to him when someone else does.
"Van!" the sound of Folken's voice came from high above on a walkway.
"Brother!" Van shouted in an anger tone. Jayson turned to see and was shocked.
"No....Folken? It can't be." Jayson said
Folken didn't have a shock look when he saw Jayson, and then dropped Van's sword. Van grabbed it and Folken walked away.
"Come back!" Jayson shouted.
"Van!" Hitomi called out.
Dilandau, hiding in the smoke behind Van in the hangar draws his sword.
"Van, look out behind you!" Hitomi shouted and Van block's Dilandau's attack.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance!" Dilandou shouted and tried to attack Van again," Taste my steal!"
Van pulls out his sword and blocks again.
"You're a weak coward!"
Van gets mad at the comment and slashes Dilandau in the face. Some hairs and blood fall to the ground. Dilandau screams and falls to the ground.
"......." was all tha came from him.
Jayson and Van ran away.
"Hitomi, this way!" Jayson shouted
"Okay!"
Jayson then looked at a dark hallway and sees a shadowy form of the mystrious soldier that talked to Folken and Dilandou, but he couldn't make of wha the really looks like.
"He looks...so familiar..." Jayson said but then got his concentration back again.
Allen takes out another soldier as Van approaches him in Escaflowne.
"Allen, let's go!"
"Gadess, pull out!"
"Right!" He finishes out the last soldier. "Guys, mission complete!"
The Enterprize and the Crusade takes off. Dilandau walks nearby holding his face.
"How dare you....you damage my beautiful face..." he said
The Enterprize and the Crusade's sails unfold and the ascend.
"Asturian high speed ship's ascending! It's escaping!" a Zaibach soldier said
"The Energist hasn't regained its power! No power output from the engine!"
"Van...someday you will stand by my side."
On the Crusade, Merle hugs Van.
"Lord Van! I'm so glad."
"Don't cry. I was supposed to save you, but you saved me again."
"This is all thanks to Hitomi." Allen said
"Oh, I see...Thank You..."
"Geez..."
"To starboard, full! Head for Palas, the capital of Asturia."
"Palas..." Jayson said on the Enterprize, "...Soon I'll be home again..."
Later, they were very near Palas, the capitial of Asturia. The coastal city. Jayson looks out the main screen of his bridge on his ship and sees the city that he once live in. Jayson remembers when he was young, he lived in Palas. When he was born, the King of Asturia was his god-father and one day, Jayson visited Palas and stayed they for a few years, and that's how he met Allen, and became a knight along with him. For the moment, since Austuria has no male heirs, Jayson took the position and was crowned prince of Asturia, though most known him as a famous knight, like Allen.
The sun was rising and they can see the ocean next to the capital. The Crusade and the Enterprize landed on an airfield and everyone got off.
"The smell of the ocean..." Plyle said, "This smell tells me that I'm really home. Alright! Let's flock to the city tonight!"
"Van, it's the ocean, isn't it?" Merle said holding Van's arm, "This is the first time I've seen it."
"Yeah, it's also my first time." Van said
Jayson took in a deep breath as he smelt the air.
"The smell of the ocean is the same as I left," Jayson said,"it hasn't change..."
"Allen! Brother?!" A female voice shouted to Allen and Jayson.
A beautiful blond haired woman rides up on a horse to the group. The young lady got off her horse and was approached by Jayson and Allen.
"I'm surprised by your sudden return, Jayson, Allen!"
"Millerna." Jayson said and kissed her in the cheek, "Truely the surprise is all mine...sister."
"Princess Millerna." Allen said, "I'm the one who's shocked."
Allen kneels and kissed Millerna's hand.
"But...Your appearance..." Allen said
"I can't ride on horseback in a dress. But why didn't you tell me? I could have arranged for you a proper welcome."
"I'm sorry, but it was so sudden."
The time, Jayson was in Austria, and with the royal family there. He treats them as if they were his own family.
Millerna sees Van.
"Oh, who's that?"
"This is my brother, well actually, our brother. May I introduce you to the King of Fanelia, Van Fanel."
"Oh, that's why. I thought I'd met him somewhere. When I was a child, I visited Fanelia once. Oh, Fanelia has lush forests, and it's a beautiful country. There's a castle with a blue roof. You were with your brother in a garden behind it." She flashes back to years before, Folken is playing with Van in back, he turns and looks at her. "Yes, your elder brother looked very gentle."
Van the looks away for a moment and has a sad, yet angered face, but no one noticed.
"Princess, I have a favor to ask." Allen said
"Oh, my, Me...? Ask me anything."
"Princess, I think it's best if I go to the castle first."
"I see. Father said that he also wants to talk to you. You can use my horse. Jayson I brought your horse along, too."
"Thank You Millerna..." He and Allen gets on horses, "See you at the castle."
And the knights rode away.
"The knight and the princess..." Hitomi said in her head, refering to Allen and Millerna, "...the perfect couple."
Millerna turns and faces Hitomi.
"Well then, shall we go? You there, why don't you carry Allen's baggage?"
"Me?" Merle laughs in the back ground
"Yes, you."
"She's not a maid. She's my companion."
"She is?"
"No, she's with Allen!" Merle shouted angered.
"No, I'm not really with anyone..." Hitomi said
"We get all sorts of people who visit Asturia, but I've never seen someone like you before."
"Yes, I suppose, you Probably don't get many vistors from the mystic Mo-!" Hitomi was interupted by Merle who steped on her foot.
"Idiot!" Merle said quietly to her. Milerna gave off a suspious look on her face.
Meanwhile, at the castle. Allen and Jayson kneel to the king of Austria and explained their situation.
"The Zaibach Empire broke the treaty and attacked our fort. Even though the treaty still stands, we don't know when they'll attack this castle." Allen said, "King Aston, I request that you make your decision immediately."
"Allen Schezar, are you going to bring misfortune to our country?" King Aston said, "How foolish of you to arouse their anger for the sake of one little fort."
"Father you don't understand!" Jayson got a little angered at his god-father. Even though King Aston is not his real father, he treats and talks to him as if he is, "We righteously protected my brother, the King of Fanelia, whose country was destroyed by Zaibach. I personally witness Zaibach suits burning Allen fort and killing mostly all of his men. We barely got out alive!"
"You two seem to have misunderstood." Folken's voice said and he walked out from behind some curtains.
"You are..." Allen asked.
"Brother?!" Jayson said in his head.
"Allen, Jayson, I would like to introduce you two to Folken Stratgos of Zaibach."
"Of Zaibach!" Allen said. Then, Allen heard a voice in his head.
"Zaibach has already manupiulated the king...it's useless to talk to him now..." Jayson's voice spoke in Allen's head.
"Jayson you-?"
"King Aston, did you know that Fanelia attacked our empire unprovoked." Folken said
"Wait a minute, I've never heard such a story." Jayson said with a bit of anger in his voice and thought to kill Folken on the spot for betraying his family, but kept his cool.
"It's true, but if you hand over the King of Fanelia and his Guymelef, Escaflowne...we'll forget about this matter. I want to avoid leaving any cracks in our alliance." King Aston nods. "Now, the case has been settled."
Folken leaves, and Jayson seem to hear Folken laugh a bit, but only he heard him.
"Allen Schezar, if you truly care about the country, hand him over. You can't protect a country with only righteousness, Allen Schezar."
Allen seemed to almost explode, and Jayson was puzzled and confused.
Elsewhere in the castle, Merle, Van and Millerna sit at a table. Hitomi comes in, in a beautiful dress.
"Oh... Oh, dear... It's very becoming. You look good in that one." Milerna said, but there was something in the voice that tells that she is being sarcastic.
"You look good enough to be a hand maiden, um," Merle said, but Van puts a hand on her head as Hitomi's beauty in the dress seem to have taken him by surprise.
"Can I really have a wonderful dress like this?" Hitmoi asked
"If you wander around with that strange look, that'll ruin Allen's reputation."
"Everything she says seems to get on my nerves." Hitomi said in her head.
The maid is bringing Hitomi's clothes away.
"Are those mine?"
"Yes. It's okay to dispose of them, isn't it?"
"N...no, it isn't"
"Why not? I'll give you as many new clothes as you like."
"I have so many memories with these clothes. I appreciate your kindness, but not this..."
"There seem to be many stories about you. I'll ask Allen later."
The maid brings Millerna a message.
"Princess Millerna... ...this is from Sir Allen and Lord Jayson,"
"What is it? 'Go to the bazaar ahead of me' Geez, men's promises always end up like this. It'll be boring to wait, so let's go, everyone."
"O...okay." Hitomi said
"Hitomi," Van said and throws her dufflebag to her.
"Why did you...?"
"Take that with you. We don't know what might happen."
Meanwhile, the crew of the Crusade and the Enterprize hide Escaflowne under a tarp.
"Hey, farther to the left, left. Good." Gadess said
"It won't draw attention like that." Teo said as he and Darson work on the tarp.
"Come down. Let's eat." Kyle said
Gadess, and Marcus goes over to where the others are eating.
"Sorry we didn't wait for you." Lance said
"You guys didn't eat ours, did you?" Marcus asked, then Suddenly, some Asturian Royal Guard arrives.
"Hey, what's with them?" Alexandra asked
"The royal guards...?" Gadess said, "What's your business?"
The guards walked to the hidden Escaflowne.
"What're you going to do?" Teo asked, "Hey, you!"
One of them draws a sword and cuts the lashing holding up the tarp. It falls and Escaflowne is revealed.
"That's Fanelia's Guymelef, Escaflowne..." the leader of the guards said, "We're seizing this Guymelef as King Aston ordered. We won't hold back against anyone who opposes us."
"Say what?" Kyle said
"What's going on, sir," Pyle asked
"Damn you..." Gadess said as they took Escaflowne away.
"What should we do?" Marcus asked Kyle.
"Let's see what Jayson will do about this." Kyle said
Meanwhile, Millerna, Van, Merle and Hitomi walk through the marketplace.
"How is it? Looks prosperous, doesn't it?" Millerna asked
"It does." A seal like man comes by.
"Oh, excuse me, miss." the seal like man said and moved on, which Hitomi was not expecting to see.
"You're shocked so easily, despite being from the Mystic Moon." Merle said
"But that was!" Hitomi said, but then a bird man walked past them.
"What're you doing? We'll leave you behind." Van said Van looks at the nearby bridge and sees 2 Zaibach soldiers talking. "Zaibach soldiers..."
Then, he see Folken and Jayson walking up to them and past them by.
"Folken...."
"What's wrong?" Millerna asked, but then Van ran in the direction of Folken. "Van...?"
Hitomi is at a nearby table, where a wolf man is selling various trinkets.
"See anything you like?" The wolfman said.
Hitomi sees a CD on the table.
"But that?"
"Pretty isn't it, it would great on you..."
Hitomi takes out her Discoman and puts the CD inside. A song plays. We then see Hitomi's school. Yukari sits on a bench.
"Yukari..."
Then, we see the Earth verison of Jason,
"Jason?"
Then, we see Amano.
"Amano..."
Then, we see Van standing and is struck by a bolt of lightning.
"Oh no Van!"
"Hitomi, what's wrong? You look so out of it." Millerna asked
"Van... where's Van?"
"He rushed to the port for some reason. He seems to be upset about something."
Then, Hitomi runs off, followed by Merle.
"Strange girls...."
Folken walks down various alleys through town. Van chases after him until Folken walks over a bridge that goes over a river. Van stops and sees a Floating Fortress behind the mountain.
"That's a Zaibach floating fortress."
Folken and Jayson reaches the other side and a carriage pulls up.
"Sir Folken, I've come to pick you up."
"This is where we part, brother," Jayson said as he bow to Folken, "It is nice to talk to you in such a while, us both being death men that which makes us the more alike."
Van runs on to the bridge.
"Folken!"
"Van, have you decided to come with me?"
"Folken," Jayson said, "What are you planning."
"Wouldn't you like to know..."
Meanwhile in the Floating Fortress, Dilandau nurses his wound.
"Oh, why must you hurt so much. cheek, cheek, cheek, cheek, cheek, cheek, cheek, cheek, cheek..." Dilandou then pressed a finger on the wound and cause fresh blood to ooze out.
"Lord Dilandau, you shouldn't touch the wound lie that." Gatti suggested.
"What?!" Dilandau punches Gatti in the face and grabs him."Do you feel the pain in my heart?"
"I... I'm very sorry." Dilandau throws him to the ground.
"Oh my face, he damaged my beautiful face..."
"Lord Dilandau!" Shester said as he walked in.
"What!"
"Lord Folken..he..."
Back outside on the bridge.
"Why...why're you with Zaibach?" Van asked
"Fanelia's Folken is dead. On the day...that day when that dragon tore off my arm...I died." We have a flashback of when he fought the dragon, and then it closed its eyes, as if it is dying, and then Folken stood down. Then, the dragon popped its eye back open and bit off Folken, arm. The Dragon hovers over him."I was ready to die...Then,( The dragon blinked its eyes and so did Folken, and it left) it was Lord Dornkirk who gave me another life. He taught me how to live again.
Hitomi runs through the Market Place.
"Hey, what's happened?"
"I saw another bad vision."
"Oh, don't... It's never a joke when you say it."
"Excuse me, where's the port?"
"It's over there."
"Thank you."
Dilandau, in his Guymelef heads towards the exit of the fortress.
"Wait, Lord Dilandau! Folken ordered us to restrain ourselves while we're anchored! "
"Who said anything about leaving the Vione. It'll be okay if I don't get out, won't it?" The exit opens. Dilandau aims at Van. "Van..."
Meanwhile.
"Van, you're my brother, the one with whom I share the same blood. I can see through your mind. This world is too tough for a gentle person like you, is it not? Not just people, but all forms of life kill each other in this world. Killing the beast, killing the dragons, killing the people... War causes another war, and the massacre continues. That's the fate of the world."
"Zaibach is the very cause of war!"
"Our war is to end war... ...to create new world order in this world. This is a true holy war."
"A war that will end all wars...heh, I think you'll find that there is no such thing."
"Van, come with me...so that we can create a new world." Folken spreads his arms as he seems to welcome Van.
"Brother..."
Merle and Hitomi runs closer to Van.
"I feel bad. It's really bad. I've got to hurry." she said
Meanwhile, the energists on Dilandau's Guymelef glow.
"Lord Dilandou is setting his engerist to maximize to shoot out a chleama claw," Shester said as a single claw pops out of the guymelef's arm.
"Bye-bye Van." Dilandau shoots a Cleama claw at Van.
Hitomi tears the bottom of her dress off and tosses her dufflebag to Merle.
"Take this, please."
The Chleama claw nears Van.
"Reach him, my claw. Tear Van to pieces."
Hitomi runs down the alley. A bird gets nailed by the liquid metal and is killed.
"Van! Look out!" Hitomi shouted
Van notices what's coming at him, and Jayson runs to him. Hitomi pushes Van out of the way and Jayson drew his sword and then with all his might, he deflected the claw away from the two on the bridge.
"Lord Dilandau!" Shester shouted as the overheated energist set Dilandau's Guymelef aflame.
"What the...?" He jumps out of it as the arms fall off. "That...girl..."
Van opens his eyes and finds Hitomi on top of him.
"Van..." Hitomi gets off of him and sits down.
"Hitomi," He looks at the smoking hole nearby."You save me, again."
"I'm glad...I made it."Hitomi said trying to catch her breath.
"Dilandou...How dare you interfer..." Folken said in his head as he looked back at the Vione.
"Oh, so this is how Zaibach operates!" Jayson shouted.
"This was not my intent."
"Is that all you have to say," Van said, "...such an excuse..."
"That's Van's and Jayson's older brother.."
Merle runs up and hugs Van.
"Lord Van! You're safe! I was so worried because she said something bad."
Then, Royal Guard steps on the bridge and surrounds them.
"Greetings Van Fanel, King of all Fanelia. King Aston wishes to see you..." The guard captain said
"Oh really..." Jayson said as he and Van looked back to see Folken riding away.
Later, Van stands in Escaflowne in the center of a large Collesseum.
"Welcome, King of Fanelia. We're glad to accept you. I will guarantee your freedom and rights. However, to cement our friendship...I want you to show the potential of Escaflowne, and your skills."
Millerna, Allen, Hitomi and Merle stand nearby.
"You don't have to worry so much." Millerna said, "Father must have something in mind."
The door opened behind Van and out came Jayson.
"Oh, don't worry yourself." King Aston said, "Sir Jayson is not going to fight you."
Door ahead of Van opens and out came two royal looking guymelefs.
"Jayson is just going to show me his skills. Think of this as my way of welcoming you back, Jayson."
"Hmp..." All Jayson could say.
Van step aside and watched his brother in action.
One of the suits have a sword and a shield and the other had a long spear.
"Well, then...let's get started," Jayson said as he swung his sword around and walked to the center.
The two royal melefs circle him and then they paused. There was a nervous silence on the field and then the one with the spear rammed at Jayson, but Jayson strifled to his left and grabbed the spear, then pulling it hard, which caused the melef to fall to the ground and Jayson took the spear and stabbed the guy's engerist.
The other came from above him and slashed at his face, but missed, because Jayson dodged it, and then Jacn lift up his sword and stabbed at the melef, but he blocked with his shield. Jayson compensate by slicing across the shield and made a deep line on it. Then, he spun around and kicked the shield, which cause the line he made earlier to split the shield in half. Then he took his sword and swung it upward and knocked the royal melef's sword away and then swung back down on the back of the guy's leg and chopped it of. But then, right as the royal melef was falling, Jayson stabbed right through the guy's energist and lifted him up with it. Then, tore the melef in half. He stood down and open up. There was an emotionless look on his face and he caught eyes with Hitomi, which made her step back.
This person was neither of the Jaysons that she knew. He was someone else...
The king applauded him.
"Well done, well done," King Aston said, "I wouldn't have expected anything less from someone I'd call my god-son."
"Thank You," Jayson said as he returned back to normal..
Now it is Van's turn. Jayson walked away toward King Aston and the others and stood down his suit, but stayed in. He passed Van before that and said something to him.
"Go for it...Van," Jayson said, "I believe in you..."
The words slightly shockd Van in some way, cause Jayson had never once said something encouraging to him, ever. This confused him, but yet gave him some inspiration.
Then, The door in front of Escaflowne opens. A Guymelef comes out. It was yellow and had a mean look in its face plate. Its weapon of choice was a chain blade. The guymelef holds the chain and let the blade swing back and forth like a pendulium.
"That's Sajima's Guymelef." Allen explained in shock, "He's no knight. He's just a bounty hunter who makes money from war."
Van closes Escaflowne's hatch and takes out its sword.
"Where's this nervousness from?" Hitomi said in her head, "I have a bad feeling."
Then, she heard another voice in her head.
"You've been having that bad feeling since you were at the bazaar. In fact, you've been have bad feelings since we came here." Jayson's voice echoed in her head.
"Jayson...you-" she was cut off from who she just heard as a door behind Escaflowne opens and two more Guymelefs come out. Then, Hitomi has her vision of Van being struck by lightning again."That bad feeling is still there. Was that vision of misfortune warning me about this? Do you know what this mean Jayson?"
"You tell me..." Jayson responded in a voice that would tell that he knows the answer.
Above, King Aston talks to Meiden, a rich merchant.
"That Melef is as magnificent as rumors say. We're fortunate to see Ispano's Guymelef with our own eyes, aren't we?"
"Are you satisfied with only seeing it, Meiden?"
"It stimulates my blood as a merchant. However, we can't determine the true potential of a Melef without seeing it fight. I'm not satisfied with a rogue like him. Why didn't you have Allen fight him?"
"I'll save Allen for another time. Just watch how my plan unfolds."
Below, Jayson hears everythiong the king said.
"What are you planning father?" Jayson asked
Van stands alone in the battlefield, but there was a look of determination in his face. Will he succeed, we shall see....
To Be Continued................
Chapter III
Was it all just dream...or maybe a vision? No it was real....The giants that attacked Fanelia set Allen's fort aflame. Yes, my vision became reality again. The giants flew into the sky and attacked us. Van then somehow changed Escaflowne into a dragon and flew away to let us escape...
The Mark of Brothers
Will yourself to stand ready
and courageous on the battlefield.
In this way, all that is difficult
or dangerous will be yours.
Dilandau and the Dragonslayers chase after Van.
"Come on," Dilandou shouted, "You'd better fly faster or we'll catch up with you."
He aims his arm and shoots a blob of hot liquid metal at Van, but missed narrowly.
"Try this on for size," He fires again and hits Escaflowne. Van finds it hard to regain balance.
"Damn, I'm hit!" Van shouted, and Escaflowne transforms back into it's regular form and lands on the ground. It gets hit multiple times in the back. Dilandau and the others land and turn invisible. "Bastards... They hid themselves again. So...where are you Dilandou..."
Footsteps are seen in the ground as Dilandau steps towards him. Van looked left and right, but couldn't see anything, and then,
"What!?" Van was caught by two claws and was stuck."Damn it!"
Dilandou decloaks in front of him.
"I've got ya O king of Fanelia," Dilandou said mocking Van, "Van...I think that is your name...You set yourself as a decoy so the others could escape...well you know that I just CAN'T stand heroics!"
He punches Escaflowne's chest, and then the sides and then the stomach.
"In fact I hate'em!" Van looks up and Dilandou punches his face plate and knocks him out," He's down already?"
"Dilandou!" Fulcan's voice shouted from the comm."What do you think you're doing, I said to take him alive."
"I was just playing around, Statagos."
The Floating Fortress approaches from behind him.
Later on, a group of goats watch as the Crusade and the Enterprize passes over where Van was captured.
"Flames...I can see flames!" Pyle said
"Can you see the remains of a Melef?" Allen asked
"None detected,"
"Do you suppose Van would be..." Merle started to say, but Allen reasure them.
"No. I'm pretty sure they won't kill Van. They say that only the King of Fanelia is the only one who can operate the Escaflowne."
"Don't worry. We'll save him." Gadess said
"I want to pay them back." Teo said
"I can't cool down myself down at this rate." Pyle said
"That's right." Reeden said
"I'll kill them all." Kio added
"Sir, what do you think?" Gadess
"How many are we, Jayson?" Allen asked
"There are 20 here...including me, and the Enterprize has about 35..."
"Hmmm, so a head on assault against the fortress would be next to impossible,"
"Yes, it would be...and there isn't enough munition on the Enterprize to damage the fortress much. I wish I can call in a couple of cruisars, but we are too far a distant to establish contact with-" Jayson was interrupted by Hitomi.
"Excuse me, Allen...I might be able to find out where Van is."
"You did predicted their attack on our fort, but..."
"Yes and it wasn't a coincidence. I can feel it. I've been able to guess things right since I was little, and... I'm not sure, but my ability seems to be getting stronger."
"Even so, this is work for us knights. You understand, right?" Allen starts to move away.
"Then, why don't you test me? Please...."
Meanwhile, the Floating Fortress hides in a crater filled with Levi-Stones. Multiple Guymelefs fly out of it.
"I've sent search and destroy units out..." Dilandou said to Folken as they walk towards Escaflowne, "They can't go back to their home country, so we don't have to hide here anymore."
"You'd better be careful. Why don't we wait for their report?"
"You're cautious, as usual," They reach Escaflowne. "Now, a piece of our future is secured. Let's just drag the knight out of it and destroy the thing."
"I cannot allow that."
"Why not? "
"Not until we find out why...this is a threat to our future....Now do you understand Dilandou?"
He cuts his finger with his sword and places his hand on Escaflowne's energist. The cockpit opens and Van falls out.
"It..it's him!" Dilandou said as he remembers Van's face the first time they met.
"Yes...Fanelia's new king..."
Elsewhere, three Guymelefs fly over Crusade and Enterprize, hiding under a cliff and don't notice it.
"Don, Those things are making me nervous." Teo said as he makes repairs.
Hitomi and Allen sit at a table. Merle and Gadess watch. She deals some Tarot cards on the table. Kio, Pyle and Paile watch from outside. Jayson leans on the doorway and watches.
"Hey, will she be able to tell our boss's past?" Paile asked
"Shhh, I'm trying to listen," Pyle said
"(gasp)" Hitomi opens her eyes very suddenly, as she sees all for the moment, "This is the card of Il Pazio. Selfish life... eccentric action... This card tells of your father's personality. His shadow covered and haunts your family, a family divided...." Allen's eyes twitched as though he was hurt.
"So..is she right?" Paile asked
"How should I know. He doesn't like to talk about his past."
"She's right," Jason said in his head, "Selena's disappearence. His mother's death...He blames his father for it all..."
"Well, continue..." Allen said
"What should I do?" Hitmoi said in her head, "He seems angry. Did I say something bad? But I have to make him believe me."
"Something wrong, Hitomi?" Jayson asked
"Ummm, nothing..."
"She's such a terrible lier," Jason said in his head
"No...Just say it." Hitomi said in her head then spoke outloud, "Il Guidizio is the card of judgement. In the near future, you might see your father again. But because you adhere to the past, your grudge...A...and this card..."
Hitomi's hand shakes as she points to a card and she tries to get a hold of herself, and then Allen grabs it.
"Thank you, Hitomi....that's enough." Allen signals Gadess to get something.
"Umm... did I...?" Allen puts the map Gadess got him on the table.
"You passed...now find out where Van is."
"Ok..."
In a cold dark room, lit by a single candle that burns blue flames....Someone was whistling a softm sweet tune. The tune wakes up Van, who was on a bed. He hears it and thinks back to when Fanelia was whole. It reminded him of home....but then realized where he is and jumps up.
"Who are you?!" Van shouted, "How did you know that Fanelia song!"
It was Folken, who stood up and faced Van. Van sees his sword on the table, then runs and grab it. He draws it and then gets in an attack position.
"OK, now take me to my Guymelef, now!"
Folken chuckles a bit.
"Do you think a soldier of Zaibach would give in to such threat? You can't escape this floating fortress, Van."
"If I have to be a pawn to survive then-" Van moves his sword to his neck to kill himself, but Folken quickly drew his own sword and knocks Van's sword away,
"You shouldn't take your life lightly." Folken removes his cape and shirt. Then, black angel wings came out of his back.
"B...Brother..."
Back on the Crusade, Hitomi swings her pendant over the map.
"I wonder if she can find him with stuff like that-" Gadess asked, but Merle shut him up.
"Shhh..."
"Well, in our life, whatever comes out will come out." Jayson said
Meanwhile, back on the floating fortress.
"It's been a while, Van. It's been ten years, hasn't it?"
"I never believe that my brother ran away from his inauguration. That he fought the dragon and was killed...that he never turned his back to the enemy, and fought until the end....But I was wrong! Why are you with Zaibach?! Why did you burn Fanelia?! Answer me, Brother!(Folken laughs a bit) What's so funny? Don't laugh!"
Van grabs Folken's shoulder, but Folken grabbed back and holded him tight.
"Yes, I failed to defeat the dragon and I still live," We see a flashback of Folken fight the dragon and lost,"Van come with me and serve Dornkirk....the emporior of all Zaiback, there we can set the future back on course."
Back with Hitomi, who continues to swing the pendant over the map.
"Do you want to take a break?"Allen asked as he wiped Hitomi's sweat.
"No. Let me continue. If I... If I only had something of Van-"
"Wait," Merle said and show Hitomi her bandage,"Wha else should we do?"
Merle give her the bandage Van put on her in the last episode.
"Envision him in your mind."
Allen, Hitomi, Merle, and Jayson put their hands on top of each other and flashbacks went through each. First, Hitomi remembers Van back in Fanelia when he got in Escaflowne for the first time. Merle remembers hugging Van after he can back. Allen remembers Van from when his fort was still burning hot, and that he taught Van the lesson of being a knight. Jayson remembers teaching Van how to fight. All their memories of Van led them into the right path, and Hitomi sees a vision of the fortress with Van inside.
"...there..."
"That's where the wandering continents gather." Allen said
"Wandering continents...?"
"Leva stones, they're like the floating rocks that this ship has." Jayson explained,"They are said to be magical, since they defy gravity, but with the science back on Earth....they are simplely large magnet rocks that repel the gravitational pull of this planet."
"That's it. It's the perfect place for that floating fortress to hide." Gadess said,"Since the fortress is just a castle on top of a big rock, it bends in perfectly."
Hitomi smiles, but then passes out.
"Hitomi!" Allen shouted as Jayson grabbed her.
"She's just tired, give her some rest." Jayson said and carried her away.
Meanwhile, back at the floating fortress, Dilandau looks at Escaflowne.
"So this is the great threat to the Zaibach Empire...It's just a stupid antique. Now, how in the world did Folken open this thing." He then slowly puts his hand up to the energist.
Elsewhere, just above the crater where the floating fortress is, the Crusade and the Enterprize nears the fortress. The Enterprize had three rotating turrets, and underneath it, opened up holes that resemble torpedos weapon ports.
Pyle was looking through a teloscope and spots the fortress.
"There it is. Right there. Floating fortress spotted!"
"Alright, heat up the leva stones. Cut the lift and charge at the fortress." Allen commanded.
In the Enterprize, Jayson ordered the same thing.
"Armed all weapons and aimed at the fortress's engine ports!" Jayson ordered and the ship's cannons took aim."Ready stinger launchers one and two!"
"Locked and loaded, sir!" Kyle shouted as two hole on the underside of the Enterprize opens up.
Back in the Crusade.
"Lift's dropped to twenty!" Teo said
"Now! Retract the sails! and Dive!" Allen commanded.
The sails retract and Crusade falls into the crater with the Enterprize following. Dilandau touching Escaflowne and it causes his hand to hurt.
"Aaaaah!!" Then the whole thing created an explosion that made the ship shake.
"What was that?"Folken asked
"Explosion in the hanger, cause unknown."
"We're under attack!"
"What?!"
There were a series of explosion as the Enterprize's cannons hit their targets with percise accuacy. Then, from underneath it, it launches what appears to be primativ looking rockets. The rockets flew straight into the fortress and made big dents on it's lower rock hull.
The Crusade slides against the Floating Fortress.
"Anchor!" Jayson and Allen shouted at the same time. And the anchors of both ships is shot out, connecting the Crusade and the Enterprize to the Floating Fortress.
"Lift regained!" Teo said
"Alright. Cut the wire and then raise the propellors." Then Crusade did that and floated near an opening in the Fortress.
Back in the Enterprize.
"Set stablizers to max! Thrusters in hover mode!" Jayson shouted as the thrusters behind and under the Enterprize moved and pointed down. The Enterprize also nears a hanger opening."Aft docking anchors, fire!"
The Enterprize docks with the fortress and so does the Crusade.
"Alright, let's board them!" Allen shouted as both ships empty all crew and attack.
They charge the Fortress. Allen looks around.
"The enemy!" Gadess shouted
"They've come." Allen said
"Let's do it, guys." Jayson shouted as he drew his sword. Some of his men were carrying strang weapons that looked like sticks with holes in them. They then form up in ranks. "Alright men, take aim!"
The couple of soldiers were actually carrying guns,
"Fire!" A series of explosions from the barrels of the weapons blasted out long bullets at their targets, killing them instantly. "Reload and engage at will!"
Elsewhere, Van listens to the noise from inside his room.
"What the hell's happening?" He said
Back with the battle. Kio takes out multiple soldiers, Pyle is chased by a few, but Reeden takes them out from above. Allen knocks down some guards and Jayson dashed toward a group and plowed through them.
Meanwhile, some of the Dragonslayers wonder what they should do.
"Where's Lord Dilandau?" Gatti asked
"I don't know." Shester said
"We can't move without his orders. Let's split up and find him." They split up.
Allen and Jayson meanwhile takes out four soldiers that were in their way and spots a hangar area.
"Escaflowne!" Jayson shouted and then sees a dragonslayer charge at them.
Allen quickly knocks away the guy's weapon and points his sword at Shester's neck.
"Freeze...that is if you want to live...."
Meanwhile Merle and Hitomi are on the Crusade.
"Allen..." Hitomi said and then she has a vision of Dilandau attacking Van from behind. Hitomi holds her head.
"What's wrong?"
"I saw it."
"Saw what?"
"I have to go."
"Go where?"
"I got to go and warn Van." Hitomi runs to the rear of the ship.
"Hey!" Merle follows.
Van hears his door being unlocked. Shester stands at the door and is knocked out by Allen. Jayson quickly followed.
"So, still alive I see."
"Allen! You came to rescue me?"
"We don't have much time, let's go." Jayson and they ran
Hitomi looks over the gap from the Crusade to the Floating Fortress and thinks to herself.
"It looks five... No, almost six meters."
"Hitomi! Hitomi! What're you gonna do?" Hitomi removes her jacket and throws it to Merle.
"Hold this. I'm going to jump over there. My broad jump record is five meters and forty. Alright."
"What're you thinking? There's no way you can jump that. It's too far. You'll die if you fall. You'll become flat mush. You-!" Hitomi gets ready and starts running. "Hey!"
Hitomi reaches toward the end of the road and jumped over, and then after what seems to go on forever, Hitomi reached the otherside and fell to the ground on the other side of the gap.
"I made it!" She got back up and ran.
"She's...one weird girl..."
Hitomi runs down a series of dark hallways, making random turns that seems to lead her the right way. A look of worry enshroud her face.
"I have to tell him as soon as possible." She said in her head.
Hitomi runs as Allen, Jayson, and Van make their way to the hangar.
"Escaflowne is that way. Jayson, Van go. I'll take care of these."
"Right, come on Van." Van runs first into the hangar followed by Jayson, just as Hitomi makes it there.
"There he is," Hitomi said. Hitomi is about to call out to him when someone else does.
"Van!" the sound of Folken's voice came from high above on a walkway.
"Brother!" Van shouted in an anger tone. Jayson turned to see and was shocked.
"No....Folken? It can't be." Jayson said
Folken didn't have a shock look when he saw Jayson, and then dropped Van's sword. Van grabbed it and Folken walked away.
"Come back!" Jayson shouted.
"Van!" Hitomi called out.
Dilandau, hiding in the smoke behind Van in the hangar draws his sword.
"Van, look out behind you!" Hitomi shouted and Van block's Dilandau's attack.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance!" Dilandou shouted and tried to attack Van again," Taste my steal!"
Van pulls out his sword and blocks again.
"You're a weak coward!"
Van gets mad at the comment and slashes Dilandau in the face. Some hairs and blood fall to the ground. Dilandau screams and falls to the ground.
"......." was all tha came from him.
Jayson and Van ran away.
"Hitomi, this way!" Jayson shouted
"Okay!"
Jayson then looked at a dark hallway and sees a shadowy form of the mystrious soldier that talked to Folken and Dilandou, but he couldn't make of wha the really looks like.
"He looks...so familiar..." Jayson said but then got his concentration back again.
Allen takes out another soldier as Van approaches him in Escaflowne.
"Allen, let's go!"
"Gadess, pull out!"
"Right!" He finishes out the last soldier. "Guys, mission complete!"
The Enterprize and the Crusade takes off. Dilandau walks nearby holding his face.
"How dare you....you damage my beautiful face..." he said
The Enterprize and the Crusade's sails unfold and the ascend.
"Asturian high speed ship's ascending! It's escaping!" a Zaibach soldier said
"The Energist hasn't regained its power! No power output from the engine!"
"Van...someday you will stand by my side."
On the Crusade, Merle hugs Van.
"Lord Van! I'm so glad."
"Don't cry. I was supposed to save you, but you saved me again."
"This is all thanks to Hitomi." Allen said
"Oh, I see...Thank You..."
"Geez..."
"To starboard, full! Head for Palas, the capital of Asturia."
"Palas..." Jayson said on the Enterprize, "...Soon I'll be home again..."
Later, they were very near Palas, the capitial of Asturia. The coastal city. Jayson looks out the main screen of his bridge on his ship and sees the city that he once live in. Jayson remembers when he was young, he lived in Palas. When he was born, the King of Asturia was his god-father and one day, Jayson visited Palas and stayed they for a few years, and that's how he met Allen, and became a knight along with him. For the moment, since Austuria has no male heirs, Jayson took the position and was crowned prince of Asturia, though most known him as a famous knight, like Allen.
The sun was rising and they can see the ocean next to the capital. The Crusade and the Enterprize landed on an airfield and everyone got off.
"The smell of the ocean..." Plyle said, "This smell tells me that I'm really home. Alright! Let's flock to the city tonight!"
"Van, it's the ocean, isn't it?" Merle said holding Van's arm, "This is the first time I've seen it."
"Yeah, it's also my first time." Van said
Jayson took in a deep breath as he smelt the air.
"The smell of the ocean is the same as I left," Jayson said,"it hasn't change..."
"Allen! Brother?!" A female voice shouted to Allen and Jayson.
A beautiful blond haired woman rides up on a horse to the group. The young lady got off her horse and was approached by Jayson and Allen.
"I'm surprised by your sudden return, Jayson, Allen!"
"Millerna." Jayson said and kissed her in the cheek, "Truely the surprise is all mine...sister."
"Princess Millerna." Allen said, "I'm the one who's shocked."
Allen kneels and kissed Millerna's hand.
"But...Your appearance..." Allen said
"I can't ride on horseback in a dress. But why didn't you tell me? I could have arranged for you a proper welcome."
"I'm sorry, but it was so sudden."
The time, Jayson was in Austria, and with the royal family there. He treats them as if they were his own family.
Millerna sees Van.
"Oh, who's that?"
"This is my brother, well actually, our brother. May I introduce you to the King of Fanelia, Van Fanel."
"Oh, that's why. I thought I'd met him somewhere. When I was a child, I visited Fanelia once. Oh, Fanelia has lush forests, and it's a beautiful country. There's a castle with a blue roof. You were with your brother in a garden behind it." She flashes back to years before, Folken is playing with Van in back, he turns and looks at her. "Yes, your elder brother looked very gentle."
Van the looks away for a moment and has a sad, yet angered face, but no one noticed.
"Princess, I have a favor to ask." Allen said
"Oh, my, Me...? Ask me anything."
"Princess, I think it's best if I go to the castle first."
"I see. Father said that he also wants to talk to you. You can use my horse. Jayson I brought your horse along, too."
"Thank You Millerna..." He and Allen gets on horses, "See you at the castle."
And the knights rode away.
"The knight and the princess..." Hitomi said in her head, refering to Allen and Millerna, "...the perfect couple."
Millerna turns and faces Hitomi.
"Well then, shall we go? You there, why don't you carry Allen's baggage?"
"Me?" Merle laughs in the back ground
"Yes, you."
"She's not a maid. She's my companion."
"She is?"
"No, she's with Allen!" Merle shouted angered.
"No, I'm not really with anyone..." Hitomi said
"We get all sorts of people who visit Asturia, but I've never seen someone like you before."
"Yes, I suppose, you Probably don't get many vistors from the mystic Mo-!" Hitomi was interupted by Merle who steped on her foot.
"Idiot!" Merle said quietly to her. Milerna gave off a suspious look on her face.
Meanwhile, at the castle. Allen and Jayson kneel to the king of Austria and explained their situation.
"The Zaibach Empire broke the treaty and attacked our fort. Even though the treaty still stands, we don't know when they'll attack this castle." Allen said, "King Aston, I request that you make your decision immediately."
"Allen Schezar, are you going to bring misfortune to our country?" King Aston said, "How foolish of you to arouse their anger for the sake of one little fort."
"Father you don't understand!" Jayson got a little angered at his god-father. Even though King Aston is not his real father, he treats and talks to him as if he is, "We righteously protected my brother, the King of Fanelia, whose country was destroyed by Zaibach. I personally witness Zaibach suits burning Allen fort and killing mostly all of his men. We barely got out alive!"
"You two seem to have misunderstood." Folken's voice said and he walked out from behind some curtains.
"You are..." Allen asked.
"Brother?!" Jayson said in his head.
"Allen, Jayson, I would like to introduce you two to Folken Stratgos of Zaibach."
"Of Zaibach!" Allen said. Then, Allen heard a voice in his head.
"Zaibach has already manupiulated the king...it's useless to talk to him now..." Jayson's voice spoke in Allen's head.
"Jayson you-?"
"King Aston, did you know that Fanelia attacked our empire unprovoked." Folken said
"Wait a minute, I've never heard such a story." Jayson said with a bit of anger in his voice and thought to kill Folken on the spot for betraying his family, but kept his cool.
"It's true, but if you hand over the King of Fanelia and his Guymelef, Escaflowne...we'll forget about this matter. I want to avoid leaving any cracks in our alliance." King Aston nods. "Now, the case has been settled."
Folken leaves, and Jayson seem to hear Folken laugh a bit, but only he heard him.
"Allen Schezar, if you truly care about the country, hand him over. You can't protect a country with only righteousness, Allen Schezar."
Allen seemed to almost explode, and Jayson was puzzled and confused.
Elsewhere in the castle, Merle, Van and Millerna sit at a table. Hitomi comes in, in a beautiful dress.
"Oh... Oh, dear... It's very becoming. You look good in that one." Milerna said, but there was something in the voice that tells that she is being sarcastic.
"You look good enough to be a hand maiden, um," Merle said, but Van puts a hand on her head as Hitomi's beauty in the dress seem to have taken him by surprise.
"Can I really have a wonderful dress like this?" Hitmoi asked
"If you wander around with that strange look, that'll ruin Allen's reputation."
"Everything she says seems to get on my nerves." Hitomi said in her head.
The maid is bringing Hitomi's clothes away.
"Are those mine?"
"Yes. It's okay to dispose of them, isn't it?"
"N...no, it isn't"
"Why not? I'll give you as many new clothes as you like."
"I have so many memories with these clothes. I appreciate your kindness, but not this..."
"There seem to be many stories about you. I'll ask Allen later."
The maid brings Millerna a message.
"Princess Millerna... ...this is from Sir Allen and Lord Jayson,"
"What is it? 'Go to the bazaar ahead of me' Geez, men's promises always end up like this. It'll be boring to wait, so let's go, everyone."
"O...okay." Hitomi said
"Hitomi," Van said and throws her dufflebag to her.
"Why did you...?"
"Take that with you. We don't know what might happen."
Meanwhile, the crew of the Crusade and the Enterprize hide Escaflowne under a tarp.
"Hey, farther to the left, left. Good." Gadess said
"It won't draw attention like that." Teo said as he and Darson work on the tarp.
"Come down. Let's eat." Kyle said
Gadess, and Marcus goes over to where the others are eating.
"Sorry we didn't wait for you." Lance said
"You guys didn't eat ours, did you?" Marcus asked, then Suddenly, some Asturian Royal Guard arrives.
"Hey, what's with them?" Alexandra asked
"The royal guards...?" Gadess said, "What's your business?"
The guards walked to the hidden Escaflowne.
"What're you going to do?" Teo asked, "Hey, you!"
One of them draws a sword and cuts the lashing holding up the tarp. It falls and Escaflowne is revealed.
"That's Fanelia's Guymelef, Escaflowne..." the leader of the guards said, "We're seizing this Guymelef as King Aston ordered. We won't hold back against anyone who opposes us."
"Say what?" Kyle said
"What's going on, sir," Pyle asked
"Damn you..." Gadess said as they took Escaflowne away.
"What should we do?" Marcus asked Kyle.
"Let's see what Jayson will do about this." Kyle said
Meanwhile, Millerna, Van, Merle and Hitomi walk through the marketplace.
"How is it? Looks prosperous, doesn't it?" Millerna asked
"It does." A seal like man comes by.
"Oh, excuse me, miss." the seal like man said and moved on, which Hitomi was not expecting to see.
"You're shocked so easily, despite being from the Mystic Moon." Merle said
"But that was!" Hitomi said, but then a bird man walked past them.
"What're you doing? We'll leave you behind." Van said Van looks at the nearby bridge and sees 2 Zaibach soldiers talking. "Zaibach soldiers..."
Then, he see Folken and Jayson walking up to them and past them by.
"Folken...."
"What's wrong?" Millerna asked, but then Van ran in the direction of Folken. "Van...?"
Hitomi is at a nearby table, where a wolf man is selling various trinkets.
"See anything you like?" The wolfman said.
Hitomi sees a CD on the table.
"But that?"
"Pretty isn't it, it would great on you..."
Hitomi takes out her Discoman and puts the CD inside. A song plays. We then see Hitomi's school. Yukari sits on a bench.
"Yukari..."
Then, we see the Earth verison of Jason,
"Jason?"
Then, we see Amano.
"Amano..."
Then, we see Van standing and is struck by a bolt of lightning.
"Oh no Van!"
"Hitomi, what's wrong? You look so out of it." Millerna asked
"Van... where's Van?"
"He rushed to the port for some reason. He seems to be upset about something."
Then, Hitomi runs off, followed by Merle.
"Strange girls...."
Folken walks down various alleys through town. Van chases after him until Folken walks over a bridge that goes over a river. Van stops and sees a Floating Fortress behind the mountain.
"That's a Zaibach floating fortress."
Folken and Jayson reaches the other side and a carriage pulls up.
"Sir Folken, I've come to pick you up."
"This is where we part, brother," Jayson said as he bow to Folken, "It is nice to talk to you in such a while, us both being death men that which makes us the more alike."
Van runs on to the bridge.
"Folken!"
"Van, have you decided to come with me?"
"Folken," Jayson said, "What are you planning."
"Wouldn't you like to know..."
Meanwhile in the Floating Fortress, Dilandau nurses his wound.
"Oh, why must you hurt so much. cheek, cheek, cheek, cheek, cheek, cheek, cheek, cheek, cheek..." Dilandou then pressed a finger on the wound and cause fresh blood to ooze out.
"Lord Dilandau, you shouldn't touch the wound lie that." Gatti suggested.
"What?!" Dilandau punches Gatti in the face and grabs him."Do you feel the pain in my heart?"
"I... I'm very sorry." Dilandau throws him to the ground.
"Oh my face, he damaged my beautiful face..."
"Lord Dilandau!" Shester said as he walked in.
"What!"
"Lord Folken..he..."
Back outside on the bridge.
"Why...why're you with Zaibach?" Van asked
"Fanelia's Folken is dead. On the day...that day when that dragon tore off my arm...I died." We have a flashback of when he fought the dragon, and then it closed its eyes, as if it is dying, and then Folken stood down. Then, the dragon popped its eye back open and bit off Folken, arm. The Dragon hovers over him."I was ready to die...Then,( The dragon blinked its eyes and so did Folken, and it left) it was Lord Dornkirk who gave me another life. He taught me how to live again.
Hitomi runs through the Market Place.
"Hey, what's happened?"
"I saw another bad vision."
"Oh, don't... It's never a joke when you say it."
"Excuse me, where's the port?"
"It's over there."
"Thank you."
Dilandau, in his Guymelef heads towards the exit of the fortress.
"Wait, Lord Dilandau! Folken ordered us to restrain ourselves while we're anchored! "
"Who said anything about leaving the Vione. It'll be okay if I don't get out, won't it?" The exit opens. Dilandau aims at Van. "Van..."
Meanwhile.
"Van, you're my brother, the one with whom I share the same blood. I can see through your mind. This world is too tough for a gentle person like you, is it not? Not just people, but all forms of life kill each other in this world. Killing the beast, killing the dragons, killing the people... War causes another war, and the massacre continues. That's the fate of the world."
"Zaibach is the very cause of war!"
"Our war is to end war... ...to create new world order in this world. This is a true holy war."
"A war that will end all wars...heh, I think you'll find that there is no such thing."
"Van, come with me...so that we can create a new world." Folken spreads his arms as he seems to welcome Van.
"Brother..."
Merle and Hitomi runs closer to Van.
"I feel bad. It's really bad. I've got to hurry." she said
Meanwhile, the energists on Dilandau's Guymelef glow.
"Lord Dilandou is setting his engerist to maximize to shoot out a chleama claw," Shester said as a single claw pops out of the guymelef's arm.
"Bye-bye Van." Dilandau shoots a Cleama claw at Van.
Hitomi tears the bottom of her dress off and tosses her dufflebag to Merle.
"Take this, please."
The Chleama claw nears Van.
"Reach him, my claw. Tear Van to pieces."
Hitomi runs down the alley. A bird gets nailed by the liquid metal and is killed.
"Van! Look out!" Hitomi shouted
Van notices what's coming at him, and Jayson runs to him. Hitomi pushes Van out of the way and Jayson drew his sword and then with all his might, he deflected the claw away from the two on the bridge.
"Lord Dilandau!" Shester shouted as the overheated energist set Dilandau's Guymelef aflame.
"What the...?" He jumps out of it as the arms fall off. "That...girl..."
Van opens his eyes and finds Hitomi on top of him.
"Van..." Hitomi gets off of him and sits down.
"Hitomi," He looks at the smoking hole nearby."You save me, again."
"I'm glad...I made it."Hitomi said trying to catch her breath.
"Dilandou...How dare you interfer..." Folken said in his head as he looked back at the Vione.
"Oh, so this is how Zaibach operates!" Jayson shouted.
"This was not my intent."
"Is that all you have to say," Van said, "...such an excuse..."
"That's Van's and Jayson's older brother.."
Merle runs up and hugs Van.
"Lord Van! You're safe! I was so worried because she said something bad."
Then, Royal Guard steps on the bridge and surrounds them.
"Greetings Van Fanel, King of all Fanelia. King Aston wishes to see you..." The guard captain said
"Oh really..." Jayson said as he and Van looked back to see Folken riding away.
Later, Van stands in Escaflowne in the center of a large Collesseum.
"Welcome, King of Fanelia. We're glad to accept you. I will guarantee your freedom and rights. However, to cement our friendship...I want you to show the potential of Escaflowne, and your skills."
Millerna, Allen, Hitomi and Merle stand nearby.
"You don't have to worry so much." Millerna said, "Father must have something in mind."
The door opened behind Van and out came Jayson.
"Oh, don't worry yourself." King Aston said, "Sir Jayson is not going to fight you."
Door ahead of Van opens and out came two royal looking guymelefs.
"Jayson is just going to show me his skills. Think of this as my way of welcoming you back, Jayson."
"Hmp..." All Jayson could say.
Van step aside and watched his brother in action.
One of the suits have a sword and a shield and the other had a long spear.
"Well, then...let's get started," Jayson said as he swung his sword around and walked to the center.
The two royal melefs circle him and then they paused. There was a nervous silence on the field and then the one with the spear rammed at Jayson, but Jayson strifled to his left and grabbed the spear, then pulling it hard, which caused the melef to fall to the ground and Jayson took the spear and stabbed the guy's engerist.
The other came from above him and slashed at his face, but missed, because Jayson dodged it, and then Jacn lift up his sword and stabbed at the melef, but he blocked with his shield. Jayson compensate by slicing across the shield and made a deep line on it. Then, he spun around and kicked the shield, which cause the line he made earlier to split the shield in half. Then he took his sword and swung it upward and knocked the royal melef's sword away and then swung back down on the back of the guy's leg and chopped it of. But then, right as the royal melef was falling, Jayson stabbed right through the guy's energist and lifted him up with it. Then, tore the melef in half. He stood down and open up. There was an emotionless look on his face and he caught eyes with Hitomi, which made her step back.
This person was neither of the Jaysons that she knew. He was someone else...
The king applauded him.
"Well done, well done," King Aston said, "I wouldn't have expected anything less from someone I'd call my god-son."
"Thank You," Jayson said as he returned back to normal..
Now it is Van's turn. Jayson walked away toward King Aston and the others and stood down his suit, but stayed in. He passed Van before that and said something to him.
"Go for it...Van," Jayson said, "I believe in you..."
The words slightly shockd Van in some way, cause Jayson had never once said something encouraging to him, ever. This confused him, but yet gave him some inspiration.
Then, The door in front of Escaflowne opens. A Guymelef comes out. It was yellow and had a mean look in its face plate. Its weapon of choice was a chain blade. The guymelef holds the chain and let the blade swing back and forth like a pendulium.
"That's Sajima's Guymelef." Allen explained in shock, "He's no knight. He's just a bounty hunter who makes money from war."
Van closes Escaflowne's hatch and takes out its sword.
"Where's this nervousness from?" Hitomi said in her head, "I have a bad feeling."
Then, she heard another voice in her head.
"You've been having that bad feeling since you were at the bazaar. In fact, you've been have bad feelings since we came here." Jayson's voice echoed in her head.
"Jayson...you-" she was cut off from who she just heard as a door behind Escaflowne opens and two more Guymelefs come out. Then, Hitomi has her vision of Van being struck by lightning again."That bad feeling is still there. Was that vision of misfortune warning me about this? Do you know what this mean Jayson?"
"You tell me..." Jayson responded in a voice that would tell that he knows the answer.
Above, King Aston talks to Meiden, a rich merchant.
"That Melef is as magnificent as rumors say. We're fortunate to see Ispano's Guymelef with our own eyes, aren't we?"
"Are you satisfied with only seeing it, Meiden?"
"It stimulates my blood as a merchant. However, we can't determine the true potential of a Melef without seeing it fight. I'm not satisfied with a rogue like him. Why didn't you have Allen fight him?"
"I'll save Allen for another time. Just watch how my plan unfolds."
Below, Jayson hears everythiong the king said.
"What are you planning father?" Jayson asked
Van stands alone in the battlefield, but there was a look of determination in his face. Will he succeed, we shall see....
To Be Continued................