Van stood overlooking his country. It has grown so much, healed so much in 3 years.

"Why are you here?" His gaze left the horizon which should silhouetted Allen's airship by now, by it remained empty and he was without news. More time had passed, the girl had not been found, Allen had not returned and he could not imagine why another girl from the mystic moon had shown up. "Dammit…" His feet carried him away from the window and out of the room. He felt the west wing and stepped inside the cavernous room that housed Escaflowne. "You did this. Didn't you?" He glared at the Guymelef that had ceased to move since it was last operated to get in this very room. That had been about a month after Hitomi had left.

"Master Van…" Van turned to Meryl and ran a hand over his face. "I miss her as well… What will we do with this girl that claims to be her daughter? Can we send her home somehow?" Van doubted it and made it clear.

"The gateway between the worlds is worked on demand only when king needs to be chosen. I am King. Why it opened and brought this girl to Gaia I do not even know. The way should have been destroyed with Zaibach and Emperor Dornkirk…" Van walked towards Escaflowne and touched the pink crystal that housed its heart. It remained in active which Van knew it would.

"Damned thing…" His fist slammed down on it and from Van's back burst out wings as white as snow.

"Master Van!" Meryl watched as he flew up to the rafters of the building and out onto the roof. He only went there when he wanted isolation and she felt horrid knowing that was what he needed. "Be safe… Be patient. We will all figure this out…" She left Van to breath and think while she made plans to track the girl down herself. Van would be angry, but it had to be done. Allen was not getting results and whatever pending issue that was threatening Gaia now, this girl was the clue and key.

.

She had learned that from Hitomi.