A/N: So it's been a little over a month but here is the next chapter, things are wrapping up and now I get to work on the romance of it all ( I hope I don't disappoint - lets just say the next couple of Chapters have lots of fluff). So now I have to get on those.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Vision of Escaflowne or any of the characters in it.
Falling from the sky, Aimi screamed. How the hell did I get here? Her mind screamed almost as loud as her voice.
"Don't be afraid," a melodic voice spoke from everywhere.
"Don't be afraid! Oh my God, are you kidding me?" Aimi shouted unbelieving, watching the ground grow ever closer. This has to be a dream, it has to be, her thoughts rationalized. But this was nothing like the dreams and visions from before. "I'm going to die," she cried out more panicked. Her arms and legs flailing about in an attempt to slow her fall, her worst fears coming to life.
"Don't be afraid," the voice repeated, echoing from all around Aimi, seemingly closer.
Feeling invisible hands on her waist, Aimi felt her decent slow and become more controlled. The clouds playfully misted her face and the wind pulled at her tunic. "Thank you," she mumbled trying to be grateful to the invisible savior.
Taking several deep breaths Aimi forced the panic she was feeling aside. She focused on the planets ever-closer surface, on every green detail. She was horrified as the scenery flashed orange, then yellow, then black as if time was moving fast forward. "The Dragon Fire," she whispered knowingly. She was watching the planet die, watching what was meant to come. "How do I stop this? How do I save them?" She begged the bodiless voice for answers, closing her eyes to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. She'd fought so hard to keep this from happening, but here she was witnessing the destruction of Gaea with her own eyes, unable to do anything.
The wind that was rushing past her abruptly stopped, leaving her in eerie silence. Opening her eyes, Aimi found herself standing in front of the statue of Varie, Folken's grandmother. "Fanelia…but how can I be here?" She wondered aloud, completely confused. "This isn't real, it can't be," she told herself, realizing that in truth she was surrounded by illusions; unlike her dreams she was witnessing her own memories.
The Escaflowne silently sat, recently uncovered from the overgrowth. Fresh tracks in the dirt left by visitors to the garden remained deeply marking the ground. Aimi remembered the day she was observing clearly, it was the day she'd seen the legendary guymelef's memories and absorbed them as if they were her own.
Turning back to the focus on the fountain, Aimi looked into the statue's face and asked, "Am I dead?" It was a long shot, but she was standing in the garden in front of the statue for a reason.
After a lengthy silence, the voice finally spoke again, this time in the direction of the stone figure. "No, but you're dying."
The statue of Varie slowly began to move, coming to life before an astounded Aimi. The stone Varie's arms dropped, her welcoming smile fading from her face. "You, Aimi Susumu, of the Mystic Moon have sacrificed so much for the sake of Gaea," the voice emanating from Varie's statue was sad. "But, another life is not something that can stop the Dragon Fire. It is an uncontrollable force that only the Goddess has the power to end. However, there is something else you can offer to the Goddess, something else she would like from you."
Aimi was puzzled. Her life wasn't important enough to stop the fire she started or it was too important to waste. She had nothing else to offer, nothing the Goddess could possibly want from her. "I don't know. I don't have anything else to give," she answered truthfully. "I just know I have to save Gaea! I can't sit back and watch its destruction. I have to do something; I'm the one at fault!"
Stepping from the fountain pedestal and down to the ground, Varie's wings trailed behind her, their length fully outstretched. She placed an ivory stone hand on a trunk of a nearby tree and turned to look at Aimi. "As the forests die, so do your chances to save Gaea. The dragons did not understand why their ancestor wished for the destruction of the planet, but they followed the ancients revenge filled desire, a revenge it claimed for your sake, for the one who controls them." Varie paused, here blank stone eyes turning onto the dragon tamer.
"Those creatures need someone that can understand them, somebody to help them to find peace again; a renewed balance with the planet, with the humans, with themselves. They need a guide to speak for them, to protect them, to help them understand why the humans are the way they are," the angel turned away, tears down her cheeks. "You have an astonishing ability, a gift no one in all of Gaea can even imagine having."
Stunned, Aimi digested what the beautiful woman's unmoving lips had told her. The dragons need someone who understands them, somebody who can speak for them…they need me. Her mind and her heart knew what she was going to have to give up to save Gaea. "But they've lived so long without me, why now?" She asked not knowing what would happen next.
"They are a dying species, hunted and misunderstood. Without the dragons, the planet will die. You must protect them Aimi, you're the only one capable of this, the only one gifted to communicate your will." Varie spoke, her words stressed.
Feeling her stomach tighten, Aimi turned from the figure, unable to meet Varie's empty stone eyes. The dragon's needed her; they needed her to stay with them. Her purpose was to protect them, to save them, to help them understand the human race. "But…" She started unsure, her lips quivering.
"After so much loss, so much pain, the Goddess is willing to grant you one of two choices. Aimi, you can choose to return to the Mystic Moon, to Earth, to the very spot and time you left with no memories of what has taken place here on Gaea. However, with your departure, you leave the planet dying, the Dragon Fire consuming everything, Gaea's destruction eminent." The statue of Varie's face changed, her brows furrowed, almost worried.
"Or, you can decide to stay as the true Dragon Princess, the voice of the dragons, serving the Goddess' will. The Dragon Fire will be extinguished, the planet allowed to heal. Yet, you will never be able to return to the Mystic Moon, to your family or your previous life." The voice stopped, Varie's eyes saddening knowing the choices were unfair and difficult.
"What kind of choices are those?" Aimi spat out spinning to face the sculpture in disbelief. "Either I live in complete ignorant bliss, never knowing that I was the person that caused the destruction of Gaea, the deaths of thousands of people, people I love, weighing on un-remembering shoulders. Or become some primitive creature's liaison, a servant to a Goddess I don't understand, and give up my family and old life forever!" Aimi finished, looking away from Varie angrily, her jaw set, fists tight.
"What is your choice Aimi?" The voice was merely a whisper now.
Everything was happening so fast, tears came to Aimi's eyes. She knew what her decision had to be. She couldn't under a clear conscious, sentence an entire planet and all its inhabitants to their destruction. "My choice…" she paused sniffling. "My choice is to stay on Gaea." She started out, swallowing sobs. "My past and family, the Mystic Moon, Earth, is no longer a part of me. I am…I am a child of the Goddess now." She finally finished closing her eyes to stop the tears. She felt her heart breaking, her words betraying what she truly wanted but knew wasn't right.
"Very well, the Goddess is truly blessed to have you, my Dragon Princess," the voice was still soft, like her mothers.
The figure of Varie moved closer to Aimi, her ivory arms embracing the dragon tamer. "The people of Gaea will never forget your sacrifices. You're meant to do great things Aimi; for the dragons, for Fanelia, for my grandson Folken."
"Your grandson…" Aimi looked at the beautiful stone face of Folken's grandmother more closely. "I wish I could have known you." The dragon tamer admitted.
"But you do my child. I surround you whenever you enter this garden, whenever you step foot in the palace. I'm always watching my son, my daughter in law, my grandchildren, and now you." Varie told her with a kind smile embracing the girl again.
"But…what about my body?" Aimi asked, pulling away to study again and remember the flawless stone face of Van's mother. "I am dying, how can I be of any use dead?"
"The Goddess loves all her children," Varie whispered, she was still smiling warmly, tears glistening from her stone eyes. She then leaned in and kissed Aimi on the forehead.
Her lips are so soft, how is that possible, Aimi thought as her world faded into darkness.
Watching from a few feet away, Talon collapsed to her knees. The Knight Caeli slowly blew his breath into Aimi's lips and then began to pump her chest, counting. The priestess had never seen anything like it, how could anyone bring someone back from the dead with the air they had breathed.
"What are you do…" her voice trailed off as heavy raindrops began to fall in a torrent, the fires around them extinguishing as if by magic. Talon's eyes drifted to the still guymelef Brutas piloted then to the trance induced dragon, its massive head turning to look in Aimi's direction.
Following the creature's gaze, Talon's mouth dropped, the dragon tamer's body was shimmering as each raindrop touched her. "Dear Goddess," she breathed. The priestess had seen this only once in her lifetime, even though it had been recorded several times throughout Gaean history during times of extreme need. "The Goddess's Touch," she whispered, naming what was happening to Aimi.
It's just like Brutas's sister, Neoli. The Goddess's Touch saved her from near death. I never dreamt…Talon fell onto her knees, bowing, deeply moved.
Allen watched with mixed emotions. His sister was the religious one, not him, yet he was witnessing the miracle. The rain was coming down harder, the fires now only smoldering smoke. He ran his hand across Aimi's still face, pushing her wet hair back.
"Aimi," he said her name softly, watching with relief as her chest began to rise and fall with new breath, the shimmering of her body fading. "Thank you." He breathed the words in a sigh.
Sitting in silent meditation, Paruchi continued to await death. He'd felt the tremor on Gaea's surface when the Retribution crashed hours ago. He never dreamed that the fortress's destruction was even possible. But then again, it had happened once before, the Vione.
"And that damned Fanel won the Gaea war," Paruchi groaned gruffly.
Paruchi heard the rain before he felt it. The wet drops came at him like a cascading waterfall, hard and steady, thoroughly soaking him. He opened his eyes and watched all his hard work and planning sizzle out of existence. The Dragon Fire was gone; it had barely started its consumption of the planet.
Calmly, Paruchi stood from his seated position on the fallen log and put his face to the sky, silently cursing the Goddess for saving them. He wasn't finished though; he had to make sure the dragon tamer was dead, before he'd completely admit defeat. She was the only one with the power to stop the Dragon Fire, the only one remotely capable of calling on the Goddess's aid. Turning south, Paruchi began his journey toward Fanelia, a renewed passion for death giving him strength.
Still bowed on the ground, Talon felt a large rough hand pull her to her feet. She looked at Brutas with tear filled eyes. Aimi had defied death and saved them all.
"We need to leave," the bodyguard pleaded to unhearing ears. .
Looking at him confused, Talon allowed Brutas to drag her out of the clearing, away from Aimi and the knight, away from the dragon and abandoned guymelefs. "What are you doing? Where are we going?" She finally spoke, a barrage of questions. She turned her head to look back at the clearing with longing.
"Are you daft?" Brutas spat at her. "We'll be sent to prison if we don't escape. It's over Talon, the rebellion is finished."
Blinking, the priestess felt the mental slap of his words. Talon had forgotten that she was to blame for all that had occurred, for all the destruction and death. "It's over," she repeated hanging her head low.
She felt Brutas's large hand grasp her own and pull, with one last look at the Knight bending over the dragon tamer, they both disappeared into the forest.
Kallie and Sarda kneeled next to Folken, the cat steadily holding a torch over the prince, lighting the dark area while the doctor worked on the wounded shoulder.
"Lift the light a little higher," Kallie ordered, bringing more gauze to dab away the blood. "He's lost so much," she mumbled, whispering unsaid prayers to the Goddess in her mind. How did this happen?
Van turned from the two working on his son, glancing at the path Aimi had taken into the forest. The very same path Allen had taken with the Scherazade. It unnerved him to stand and do nothing, but he'd promised Aimi to stay with Folken, to get his son help. His eyes moved to the Mystic Moon's glowing blue sphere in the night sky through the ashen clouds. "Goddess…" he began to pray, not knowing what else to do.
Something wet hit his cheek, followed by several more drops of rain. Van watched in amazement as the Dragon Fire vanished, consumed by the holy water that blessed Gaea. "Aimi, she actually did it. She saved us all." He whispered softly. The relief that flooded through the king brought him to his knees. "Thank you!"
Wet moisture hit Aimi's face painfully pummeling her bruised body. Moaning, she opened her eyes to find Allen hovering inches away from her face. "Allen? What are you…what is going on?"
Lifting her instantly, the knight cradled her gently. "Thank the Goddess, you weren't breathing, I thought you'd died." Allen told her quietly, his voice audio-ably shaken. "I attempted to resuscitate you but nothing was happening."
Blushing intensely at the sudden care and closeness, Aimi wondered just what Allen had done to try and bring her back, an image of the aged knight kissing her, breathing his life into her found its way into her busy mind causing her to redden more. Pushing the thoughts aside and taking comfort in his warm chest Aimi sighed. "I feel like I should be dead," she mumbled, wincing. The Goddess had kept her promise; she had extinguished the Dragon Fire and returned Aimi to Gaea, alive, though feeling tremendous pain all over. "Take me home Allen."
"But the Mystic Moon..." Allen began, confused as he lifted her effortlessly from the ground.
"No," Aimi responded, eyes saddening. "Take me to Fanelia, to Folken." The tears slowly crept down her cheeks as Allen walked past the Scherazade, the quiet dragon, and the second, now abandoned, guymelef. Brutas was gone, Talon with him, running from their pasts, hoping to find a more promising future. At least they have each other, Aimi thought, knowing that she would forgive them both in time. After all, if it wasn't for there efforts to have a war, the love she found with Folken and the friendship she had with Nathan would have never happened, they had given her strengths that she never knew she had and memories she would never forget.
Princess… The voice was gruff in her mind, unfamiliar. Please forgive us; we did not understand your will. She realized it was the dragon, it was begging, its golden eyes holding a deep sorrow. Please forgive me, oh speaker of humans. The blow was never meant for you.
I know it wasn't your intention to harm me. All is forgiven; Aimi answered lifting her head from Allen's chest. She looked up at the dragon with new eyes, seeing the emotions of a human on its scaly face for the first time. She now understood the guttural sounds it made as words; the primal instinctual thoughts were complete and understandable. So this is my gift, she thought, a small smile crossing her face. Perhaps it won't be as difficult of a task as I thought. Her mind then turned to respond to the creature. I will return to the forest, to you, I want to help, Aimi promised. The dragon's eyes blinked at her as it turned, walking into the darkness.
"You really can control them, can't you?" Allen asked, stopping to watch the bull dragon leave the area. Seeing what took place he couldn't believe that Aimi actually had the powers to control dragons, to speak with them, but here was all the proof he needed.
"Please take me back to Fanelia," she responded, too exhausted to give Allen an appropriate answer. Aimi watched the last of the dragon's tail disappear in the brush before succumbing to unconsciousness.
Deep in thought, Kallie picked up the stitching needle and pulled the thread through the eye with expert hands. She felt the wet drops on her cheeks first, surprised, Kallie touched her face. They weren't tears. Looking up, the sky opened, rain battering down on them, the forest absorbing the needed water with vigor.
"Dear Goddess," Sarda whispered above her head.
"Aimi, do you think she…" Kallie began.
"Aimi…" Folken moaned.
Looking down at the prince, Kallie wiped the rain from his face with clean gauze. "No Folken, it's me, Kallie. You've been badly injured," she told him, brushing his wet bangs off of his face.
Folken's eyes shot open. "Aimi!" His voice was hoarse. His eyes cut across to each person leaning over him, settling on his father, who had approached the commotion. "How could you? Where is she?" He asked eyes now narrowed.
Noting his son's angry tone, Van shook his head. "I don't know Folken," the king answered honestly.
"Why? Why did you let her go? Why?" Folken pleaded, he felt hot tears prick his eyes, mixing with the relentless rain.
"It's over," Van said soundly. "She's saved us all."
"What?" Folken was confused, his eyes moved to Kallie, the doctor smiled gently. His eyes widened as realization hit. The rain, the fires…
"The Dragon Fire has stopped. Whatever she did worked," Kallie informed him, affirming his thoughts.
Please Goddess, please let her be alive, Folken prayed looking once more to his father. If she's dead, so help me…
Holding the savior of Gaea, Allen noted the clearing mentally. He'd have to return later to collect the guymelefs. Walking quickly into the darkness, the quiet hum of the Crusade guiding his way, Allen watched the forest begin to clear of smoke due to the steady shower. His breathing eased, the life giving water was doing more than extinguishing the Dragon Fire.
Allen could barely make out the Escaflowne's haunting form, lit by a single torch light. His eyes settled on the dark haired king of Fanelia and he called out.
"Van!" Allen's voice shouted from the darkness. It was excited. The king moved from his son's malevolent stare and approached the direction of the knight's voice, entering the darkness outside the ring of light the torch illuminated.
"I have her," Allen's words were soft, barely heard, his shadowy form coming into view.
Van ran ignoring the relentless moisture after hearing the news. He reached his friends side instantly. Pulling his gloves off, the king reached down to brush several stray hairs off Aimi's face then felt for a pulse. She was asleep and looked relatively unharmed. "Thank the Goddess," he mumbled. "She's all right." Van looked at Allen, his face tired. "What happened?"
"It's a miracle!" The knight said slowly. "The priestess called it the Goddess's Touch."
Van's eyes narrowed. "What priestess?"
Allen sorted through his chaotic memories of the events that had unfolded before him. "Talon, she and the Basramian soldier were the cause of this," Allen started making no sense. "Van, they killed her. They made her lose her focus on the dragon. She went flying. I…I couldn't do anything."
Van watched as his friend unraveled before him. "But she's alive, Allen, how?"
Dazed blue eyes met the kings. "The rain put the Dragon Fire out. Aimi was close to death, badly broken, not breathing. There was no way she should have survived. Van, the Goddess saved Aimi, it's the only thing that makes some kind of rational sense."
Swallowing the news, Van wondered why Gaea's deity would save a woman that caused so much destruction and didn't originate from the planet. "It had to come with a price," the words left his mouth without much thought, unfiltered.
Allen looked at the king startled. "What do you mean by that?"
"Never mind," Van said. "Just a thought, it means nothing." He continued, shaking his head, putting his gloves back on. "We need to return to Fanelia as soon as possible."
"Agreed," Allen said nodding his head. Carrying Aimi's lightweight, the knight followed Van and watched as the smoke lifted revealing the Escaflowne's detailed dragon form, the doctor, Sarda, and the fully conscious Folken. The prince was on his feet, using the cat as a crutch, ignoring the doctor's concerned comments.
"Aimi…" Folken took a step forward. He could make out his loves form, unmoving in the knight's arms. He felt the adrenaline pumping again. Please let her be safe, he prayed, taking another step forward.
Allen paused at Folken's side, cradling Aimi. "She's all right. " He said gently, watching as Folken reached out a trembling hand to Aimi's face. The prince's eyes sparkled with unshed tears of joy.
"Thank you," Folken muttered to Allen his eyes hidden beneath his shaggy hair. "Thank you Allen." His knees wobbled and gave way.
Sarda caught Folken effortlessly. The prince was unconscious again. "Glad to see she's safe," the cat man said with a fanged grin.
"It was none of my doing," Allen replied. He looked down at the sleeping prince with a slight pang of guilt; it should be you, Folken, holding Aimi, not me. He thought, wanting to tell the prince how lucky he was to have such an extraordinary woman.
"How did she stop it?" Sarda asked.
"Only the Goddess and Aimi know the answer to that question," Allen responded, a small smile on his face as his eyes shifted to look at Aimi.
"Aimi should rest," Van said interrupting the conversation. "Kallie will continue to attend my son, when she's finished we'll retire to the Crusade and return to Fanelia."
Nodding Sarda turned to drag Folken back to Kallie.
"Is she all right?" The doctor asked, helping Sarda place Folken in a better position for the stitches.
"Yes," Sarda answered, his gaze turning to watch Allen carry the woman into the Crusade, Van standing at the open haul. "She'll be fine."
"That's good," Kallie mumbled absently. Using smelling salts, she wafted the jar under Folken's nose. He woke slowly, coughing. With the blood loss and rush of emotional adrenaline, he needed to rest desperately, but it would have to wait. She had several questions to ask him. Kallie refocused her attention on Folken's shoulder.
"Ouch," Folken complained, more awake, as she pushed the needle into his skin.
"Don't be such a child," Kallie chided as she continued to sew his wound shut. "I'm glad to hear Aimi's fine." She made polite conversation. Her mind wondered to her sister and Brutas. Where are they? Did they escape the Retribution as well? Her thoughts caused her jaw to clench.
"Kallie, that hurts," Folken spat waking her from her daze.
"Sorry, I…I was just thinking, what happened to Nathan? How did he die? Did he die bravely?" Kallie's deep blue eyes were wide.
Looking away from the doctor, Folken's eyes found the soldiers corpse. "I don't know. He was dead before I reached them."
"Oh," Kallie saddened. She didn't want to ask Aimi about Nathan, she knew how hard it would be for her to relive what happened and didn't want to put her friend in any more pain. Pulling the last of the string to tighten the wound shut Kallie patted Folken's bare chest. "All set. You should be good as new. But, do you mind telling me how this happened?"
"Does it matter?" Folken returned with a question, a strange look on his face.
"No, I suppose it doesn't," Kallie said looking away from the prince. "It just seems as though who ever did this to you knew that you'd been wounded there before."
"Really?" The princes brown eyes gleamed, intrigued. "Then no serious damage?" He asked with raised brows.
"Not at all, the dagger followed the exact path of the arrow. Your muscles will be stiff for some time after the wound heals, but with practice you'll be back to your old self." Kallie responded, mentally noting that Folken didn't want to talk about how he'd injured himself.
"Looks like you'll still beat me," Sarda teased.
"You thought you had a chance against me left handed?" Folken laughed.
Kallie smiled watching the exchange between the two childhood friends. Her thoughts turned to the arena when Folken had fought left handed in the guymelef. He bested Milo easily. "It would be nice to see you fight at your best Folken," the doctor said slowly, a slight blush on her face.
"Seems you have a fan," Sarda joked tousling the hair on Folken's head, the prince blushing in return.
"It's time to go home," Van said joining the group disrupting their fun.
Folken's eyes narrowed at his father. I will never trust you again. He thought childishly. How could you have let her go, knowing what she means to me.
"Folken, before we leave I need to speak with you," Van said, he needed to clarify what had happened, to make Folken understand his actions.
Bowing from the group Kallie excused herself to clean her utensils, her usual stress relief, on the Crusade, away from the family quarrel.
"Um, allow me to give you both privacy," Sarda muttered, beginning to tiptoe away from the intense family moment.
"No, you stay here!" Folken ordered sternly. His eyes still riveted on his father.
Van nodded in agreement but not looking away from his son, this allowed Sarda to relax, knowing he was welcome to the confrontation by both sides.
"I did what I did because I believed in her! I know you'll never forgive me for betraying you, but what she asked of me I couldn't ignore. You may never understand why she chose to leave but she did and I supported her decision. It was something she had to do alone. Folken, what she did saved us all, she gave us a second chance." The king finished his jaw tight.
"You believed in her…" Folken responded quietly, most of his questions answered. "I know you did it to save us, to save Gaea. But, Aimi's been through so much and for what? For a country who's leader allowed her to walk into a death trap? And a prince who can't even protect her or be there when she needs him most." Folken looked away.
He's angry with himself, Sarda thought, meeting Van's eyes, the king shaking his head in disagreement with his son's words.
"I keep disappointing her, disappointing myself. Why would she want to spend her life with me?" Folken told them, his voice shaking. Why am I saying this? Why am I so angry with myself? He let her leave not me…no, I couldn't stop her, I was too weak, I should have been the one to follow her, the one that brought her back, he argued with himself realizing his anger had been misdirected.
"I think it's time we go home Folken. We need to rest, all of us. We'll allow Aimi to speak her mind when she awakens. I believe she thinks very differently than you son," Van said placing a hand on Folken's left shoulder, his thoughts on the kind words Aimi had whispered to his son before she had left them so many hours earlier, the words Van was not meant to hear, the words that made him keep his promise to her, ignoring his pride.
Nodding in defeat, Folken stood up and hobbled to the Crusade, his father and Sarda helping to support him.
"It's stopped! The Dragon Fire has been extinguished. Gaea, Fanelia is safe once more," A soaking wet soldier came running into the cave calling to the royal families.
"We're saved?" Hitomi asked picking up the still form of her daughter, Varie had fallen asleep hours earlier, exhausted.
The soldier nodded, bowing to his queen. "Lord Van is returning on the Crusade. The rescue was successful, everyone is safely aboard."
"Thank God," Hitomi cried softly, reverting back to her Earth bound ways, tears softly falling down her cheeks.
"When will the Crusade arrive?" Dargas finally spoke.
"Within the hour," the soldier responded with another bow at the prince. "We prepare the landing field for the Zaibachian battleship and the courtyard for the Crusade."
"We will need to return to Asturia in the morning," Dryden spoke up, his wife wrapped in his arms, fatigued. "I need to evaluate the damage of our own country. Can this be arranged?"
"Yes, understood sir," the soldier responded with a nod. "We'll do what we can."
Dryden nodded in understanding, watching the soldier turn to make his leave. He squeezed his wife gently, relief filling his tired mind.
"Can we return to the castle?" Millerna asked, receiving a reassuring smile and nod from Hitomi.
"Father?" Dargas turned to his parents. "I can't go back to Asturia, please allow me to stay and find out what happened. After all, they're my friends; we've been through a lot together." The prince pleaded. You owe me this much, he thought.
"Very well," Dryden nodded. "Return home when you wish, perhaps on the Crusade with Allen if you so choose." The Asturian king was too tired to argue with his son.
"Thank you," Dargas smiled, relieved that his father hadn't squabbled with him.
"Let's get some rest," Hitomi spoke up, leading the group out of the cave.
Merle lingered in the shadows. She needed a few moments to herself. Thank you, her mind whispered, her eyes focused on the torchlight. Thank you dear Goddess for returning them safely to us, for allowing Folken and Aimi to find happiness and a future together, finishing her prayer, the cat woman ran out of the cave after the others into the pouring rain.
The Crusade lifted from the clearing shakily. Van watched the ground disappear below them as they rose. He pulled the lever to shut the haul and sighed with relief. Everything was over. Both Aimi and Folken were safe, resting in separate cabins with Kallie attending their needs. The Zaibachian doctor has surprised him. Her skills were unfamiliar but effective. Van knew that Kallie's country was far more advanced than Fanelia, thanks to the industrial revolution, but Van knew that Zaibach's culture and heritage had been lost during Dornkirk's rule.
Turning from the haul to go to the bridge, Van paused to study the safely stowed away guymelefs. The Escaflowne hadn't been used for anything more than a rescue vessel, the Scherazade had battled the third guymelef in the haul, which was practically in two, almost junk.
The king sighed and wondered why Allen had been so adamant on bringing the Zaibachian armor back; it would be no use in Fanelia. It can always be scrapped, Van thought.
Allen had been watching the king from the shadows as he studied the guymelefs. The knight didn't question his decision to bring the third guymelef. Something inside him made him bring it, he kept thinking it was important. "Do you think this is over?" He asked the king interrupting his deep concentration.
"For us, I believe it is. For Aimi, I think she's beginning a new lifelong adventures," Van answered. "Whatever she sacrificed to stop the Dragon Fire had to be great," he told the knight turning towards him.
"I don't think she is able to return to the Mystic Moon," Allen informed Van, thinking of the conversation with the woman before she fell unconscious.
"If that is true, then her choice to save us all must have been a difficult one, for a family and a life are almost impossible to give up," Van said in silent amazement at Aimi's strength, thinking of his one wife's decision to leave Earth to be with him. "She's got a lot to learn if she is to remain on Gaea and become the great woman she's meant to be." The king smiled.
"She's got an incredible start on that destiny." Allen responded with a smirk. "And I don't doubt her ability to accomplish it. After all, she's challenged her fate once already."
Holding her daughter's pendent tightly, Yukari looked at Mrs. Kanzaki as she spoke.
"I believe Aimi is with Hitomi now," the elder woman said.
"But how is that…" Amano broke in, confused and frustrated. Why would Aimi leave? Why would she go to some other world? How?
"The pendent," Yukari spoke hoarsely through fresh tears, answering her husband's unspoken questions. She remembered the track, her last moments with Hitomi. It had all seemed surreal. "She's where she's meant to be," Yukari finished, her eyes moving to the pendent.
"Darling, you can't be serious. The police are looking for her; she's been missing for almost two months. We can't give up!" Amano told her desperate for a more rational reason, he too remembered those final moments with Hitomi, he still couldn't believe them.
"Amano, the police stopped believing they would find her alive a week into the search. I would rather believe she is with Hitomi in some other world then dead." Yukari argued her eyes glazed over.
Standing, she moved to the mantle and pulled a frame from its place. She stared at the wide-eyed, grinning little girl clutching a stuffed lizard. It was the day Aimi had gotten lost, the day she swore the monitor had led her to safety. At the time Yukari was too relieved to listen to the story. "She was always special. Always smiling, always striving against her fears. I can only hope that Aimi is happy wherever she is," Yukari said to the picture.
"I never imagined anyone else would go to that place, to Gaea, to where Hitomi must be," Mrs. Kanzaki shook her head still amazed by what she'd seen at the track.
"She's not coming back, is she Yukari?" Amano asked his wife, he could feel the presence of tears threatening to surface, their little girl was gone.
"No Amano, I don't think she'll be coming back to us." Yukari answered, cradling the picture as if it were an infant. She felt her knees give way. "Please, if Aimi is with you Hitomi, please, please, protect her and love her as if she were your own." Aimi's mother was sobbing now, Amano's arms wrapping around her trembling body.
Kneeling next to the two neighbors, who she looked at like her own children, Mrs. Kanzaki put her own arms around the couple. "Have faith that she's safe, that she's with Hitomi," Her voice was soft, the tears of loss, of remembering her own daughter, filled her own eyes. "Protect her, my sweet daughter."
Watching the sun begin to rise above the horizon, Hitomi breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone had returned home alive. Her prayers went out to the soldier who, so she'd been told, was a close friend to both Aimi and Folken. The queen wondered what was so significant about the red haired man that her son wanted to honor him so desperately.
Hitomi turned from the window and looked over to the chamber's bed. Aimi was sleeping soundly. She hadn't stirred once since Allen laid her on the cushions.
"What happened out there?" Hitomi asked the sleeping girl. The Dragon Fire had stopped as abruptly as it had begun, what had she done to save them.
The queen wandered over to the bedside and gently picked up Aimi's warm hand. The woman was deathly thin and malnourished. "We'll make sure to give you strength."
Eyes full of tears, Hitomi brought Aimi's smooth hand to her face and cried into the open palm. "I'm so sorry Yukari; I couldn't protect your daughter when she needed me most." Laying her head on the soft surface of the bed, Hitomi's eyes closed. "I won't let it happen again, never again," the queen murmured before sleep overcame her.
Drowsy, Aimi pried her eyelids open. The warmth around her hand was welcome and familiar. Her memories brought her back to the medical tent with Folken asleep holding her hand. Folken, you're safe, she thought a slight smile growing on her face. Peering down her arm Aimi's eyes widened in surprise. Hitomi, her mind called out to the queen.
The morning rays seeped through the heavy curtains, which had been drawn closed, dimly lighting the familiar quarters. How long has it been? Aimi wondered, trying to count the days, which seemed like years, that she had been gone.
"Aimi…" Hitomi's voice was hoarse from sleep. The queen hadn't realized how tired she was, she had been so worried about everyone else she hadn't stopped to check her own needs.
Moving her gaze from the curtains to the woman that was Folken's mother, Aimi looked into the familiar green depths of Hitomi's eyes. "Good Morning," the dragon tamer spoke softly, stretching slowly with a yawn. She hadn't realized how much pain her body was baring until the quiet of the day had found her, when she was no longer surviving but actually living. Her body ached in places she didn't know she had, her muscles pulsed with needed blood flow sending waves of unpleasant stinging sensations through her limbs. Aimi moaned softly, uncomfortable.
"Are you all right? How are you feeling?" Hitomi asked squeezing the younger woman's hand, with a worried look on her beautifully aged face.
Thinking back to what had transpired while away from Fanelia Castle, Aimi weighed her answer. "I feel…I feel okay. I mean after everything that has happened I'm all right."
"Do you mind telling me what happened?" Hitomi asked trying not to pry but curious.
Aimi looked away from the queen and propped herself up against the pillows. She didn't want to tell Hitomi about the choices she'd been given. She didn't want to tell her that the Goddess gave her the power to allow Gaea's destruction. "I did what I had to do to save Gaea. The sacrifices were…difficult," Aimi replied vaguely with a sad smile.
The queen knew Aimi was keeping the details to herself, the young woman wasn't ready to tell her everything, but whatever it was, truly was the ultimate sacrifice. "You can't return to the Mystic Moon can you?" Hitomi asked, thinking about what Allen had told her before he'd left the room.
Eyes wide in shock, Aimi wondered when she'd become so transparent. "No, I can't," she responded flatly. She didn't feel like talking anymore, the sadness of her choice was still haunting her mind.
"You're truly amazing Aimi. Thank you, thank you so much for saving us all," Hitomi leaned forward and kissed the woman's cheek softly.
The tears began to run down Aimi's face in a wave. She turned completely away from the queen and sobbed for all she'd lost.
Hitomi gently stroked Aimi's head, cooing softly as if she were Varie. I'll take care of her Yukari. I promise I'll protect her as if she were my own, the queen thought, tears pricking her own eyes, the memories of her own choice to leave Earth and never returning filling her mind.
The Crusade had been much closer to Fanelia and flew much faster than the Zaibachian airship, so Kallie wasn't surprised to find her-self standing in the open airfield watching the battleships decent. She was excited, a feeling she almost didn't recognize. Aefron, how long has it been? Her thoughts were giddy. Her eyes shifted to the men that now accompanied her.
Van was standing next to Allen; both remaining quiet in her presence. Folken had been sedated and brought to his quarters, the cat Sarda and Dargas by his side, to be treated by a Fanelian doctor. No female contact, that's what she'd been told. Society rules apparently applied to all females, even those in the medical field. I never did care for those ridiculous laws, she thought thinking of her own courtship.
Aimi was a completely different story. After they landed in Fanelia, Kallie wasn't allowed to treat or even see her friend. Still not trusted, she thought the smile never leaving her face. It would never cease to amaze her, that even in a life-threatening situation, Fanelia and Zaibach would continue to hold grudges against each other.
Focusing on the now open haul of the battleship, Kallie watched as two figures walked towards them. Only two people, they are not planning to stay! Her thoughts panicked. She wanted Aefron and the Empress to meet Aimi, Laota needed to hear about Nathan from Aimi, she was the only one that knew the whole story.
"Empress Laota," Van called out waving as the woman approached with her emissary in tow.
"Lord Van," Laota said with a smile offering him her hand.
"How can Fanelia repay you?" The king said, taking the hand and bringing it to his lips with a smile.
"How did you stop the Dragon Fire?" The empress asked, curious if the woman from the Mystic Moon was alive or not.
"Aimi, she stopped it," Allen interjected with a warm smile, bowing deeply.
"She's asleep currently, but I believe she would like to address you." Van said, his eyes moving to the covered body they stood next too.
"I'm sorry but we can't stay and wait for her to wake. I am needed back in Zaibach for repairs to the city from the fires. I will return to visit with her. After all, she is to be the future queen of Fanelia," Laota felt relief that the woman was safe even if she had started the Dragon Fire, that same woman saved them all.
"Milady, her message was important," Kallie finally spoke. She kept her eyes lowered afraid to look at the Empress, at Aefron.
"I'm sure it can wait until she's well, Kallie." It was Aefron's voice.
Looking up at his hazel eyes, Kallie clenched her jaw in anger. "No!" She spat, unafraid of the punishment she'd receive for her disobedience. "I'll give the part of the message myself. I was there." Kallie stood straighter, remembering the emotional moment in the prison tent between Aimi and Nathan vividly. "Your majesty, Aimi was befriended and helped by a kind rebellion soldier while in captivity. His name was Nathan."
The Empress faltered, her face falling. "Nathan?" She repeated, her anger with the subordinate doctor wavering.
Aefron looked to the paling woman at his side. "Empress, you don't look…"
Holding a hand up to silence Aefron, Laota urged Kallie on. "Please continue," she said, ignoring her emissary's concern, driven by the need to know.
"Yes, Nathan, your brother! He died, believing in the rebellion, in protecting Aimi. I don't know the details of his death but in life he loved you even though he fought against you. I wish you could have seen him alive, he was kind-hearted and a true gentleman." Kallie said walking to the body.
Laota felt her stomach drop. Her baby brother…he was gone. "He's dead?" She asked unbelieving, looking down at what she now realized was a covered body.
"Yes Laota, he's dead. Will you honor his heroics?" Van spoke up, already knowing what the Empress would decide.
Taking a breath to collect her-self, Laota addressed them formally. "As Empress I cannot allow Zaibach to honor him, a rebellion soldier, fighting against his own country." She started turning to Van and falling to her knees, her head bowed. "But as his sister I beg you, Lord Van, please honor him with the greatness he deserves, here in Fanelia." She fought back the tears that threatened to fall.
"Of course," Van replied with a polite nod.
Standing the Empress turned from them and knelt next to the body. She lifted the sheet and gasped, swallowing a sob, at her brother's dull lifeless face. Leaning forward, Laota kissed his cold cheek softly. I will always love you my sweet, energetic Nathan, the first love of my life, my little brother. I will find out your story and honor your correctlyin my heart. "I love you Nathan, my darling little brother," she whispered softly. Standing, her face now stoic, Laota turned to her audience. "Aefron, prepare to leave." She ordered him.
"Majesty…" Her emissary spoke up looking at Kallie, not understanding. They had returned to Fanelia to strictly collect Kallie, not receive her news and leave her in the country. Hasn't she done enough for Zaibach? He wondered.
"Yes, of course." Laota remembered, her blue eyes focusing on the doctor. "Kallie you have a choice. You may return home to Zaibach or stay here until we return to honor my brother with in the next moon," Laota told her, holding a distant polite smile on her face, still managing her stormy emotions.
Looking at Aefron, Kallie breathed in then exhaled. She didn't have to think about her answer it was obvious what the Empress wanted. What's another month, her thoughts mumbled. "I will stay here in Fanelia." Her statement caused Aefron's face to light up with surprise.
"Very well. Say your farewells Aefron and return to the ship." Laota said. She curtsied gracefully and turned retreating to the battleship alone.
Aefron waited until the knight Caeli and the king of Fanelia left them to speak alone. "Kallie?" His voice faltered.
"Oh, Aefron, I'm so sorry," the doctor crashed into her lovers arms. "I care about Aimi. She's been through so much and I need to remain by her side. Plus, the Empress needs me here, to watch over Nathan."
Petting her head gently, Aefron whispered, "I understand my dearest. If Laota didn't need me for support, I too would stay, to be with you and to meet this woman you think so highly of."
Smiling, Kallie lifted her head, her lips meeting Aefron's. They'd been apart for nearly a year and she'd forgotten how he smelled, how he felt, everything. Pulling away, Kallie stroked the side of his face softly. "You better go before she implodes. I don't think she took Nathan's death very well."
"You noticed too?" Aefron smiled tugging a strand of her hair. "She's been changing during this war, becoming more human."
Eyebrows raised, Kallie laughed. "Maybe I should go home with you, sounds like your becoming fond of her." The emissary blushed in response and leaned down to kiss the doctor one last time before turning to leave.
Slipping from Aimi's chamber, Hitomi felt exhausted. She stumbled down the hallway in a daze. She had left the mourning woman asleep and being unable to silently sit, she forced herself to leave.
"Hitomi?" It was Merle's voice; she felt the warm hands of the cat woman embrace her.
"Merle, she is so brave, so giving, how will we repay her?" Hitomi's voice trembled, tears threatening to fall again.
"With our love," Merle whispered. "Treat her as our own child."
Hitomi looked up into the cat woman's coffee brown eyes startled. "How did you know?"
"I have ears Lady Hitomi." The said appendages twitched as she said this. "Plus, I slipped in while you were both asleep, sorry it's my nature," Merle admitted with a grin, embarrassed.
Hugging her friend, Hitomi began to laugh. "We will do that Merle. We will love her to the fullest!"
A/N: So hopefully you enjoyed it.
I've got a few chapters left, two for sure...they are actually typed up and probably another one at least (that's actually written on paper) and a very sweet epilogue. :-) The story is all there...just got to get in gear to make it flow and tie up loose ends.
As always I am grateful for the great reviews whether criticism or not.