THE DIABOLICAL ADONIS
Was it all just a dream? Or maybe it was a vision. No, it was real. The cards warned me it all was going to happen! I found myself transported to the kingdom of Asturia and there I met an angel by the name of Allen Schezar. When his giant defeated Escaflowne, I was overcome by a terrifying vision!
"What's the matter, Hitomi?" Allen asked, hopping out of Scherizad. "You have to get out of here! Take everyone and get far away! The invisible army is coming to attack you!" Hitomi screamed. "I'm sorry. Perhaps seeing two melefs fight was too much for you," Allen replied. And Folken told me to go to the Mystic Moon. Did he know I'd be surrounded by freaks like her? Lybra thought. "No! It's dangerous! Listen to me! Everything is going to be swallowed by flames!" Hitomi shouted in protest. Allen's armies stared at her. "Please, you've got to believe me! The invisible giants that attacked Fanelia will burn everything down! I saw it! Please listen!" she begged. "She's giving me the creeps," one of the soldiers said. "Haven't you heard? Rumor has it that she came from the Mystic Moon and everyone knows that place is cursed!" another soldier replied. "You believe in curses? How pitiful!" Lybra exclaimed as they were asking each other if the castle will indeed be attacked. "That's enough! Soldiers of Asturia aren't afraid of old wives tales!" he replied hard, glaring at them. He knelt back down to Hitomi. "I apologize. Forgive them. You're tired. You should rest inside," he said, returning to his suave and calm voice. "Commander!" Allen faced a soldier racing towards them on a horse. "We caught someone suspicious out in the forest! We've brought the prisoner." Everyone faced them as another soldier on horseback approached with a young cat-like girl. "Merle!" Van gasped, racing towards her. She had burns all over her body and had her hands tied behind her back and her feet tied together. "Van!" she screamed, hopping out of the soldier's arms, collapsing to the ground. Van quickly untied her and Hitomi and Allen ran up to them. "You know her?" Allen questioned. "Yes, she's from Fanelia," Hitomi replied. "Lord Van, I've finally found you," Merle weakly said.
"What about Fanelia?" Van quickly asked. "It was horrible!" Merle replied. Van narrowed his eyes, remember what Allen told him a few moments ago. "It burned! It all burned to the ground!" Merle said, clinging to Van as she cried. Van was frozen stiff. He just couldn't believe that his vast kingdom was so easily destroyed in a matter of moments. Hitomi could see what happened after they were transported as Merle continued her story. "All the Samurai at the castle were killed! The survivors were scattered! Everyone was gone! I was so alone! I tried so hard to find you, Lord Van! I was so scared!" Merle sighed and fainted in Van's arms. "Merle.I'm so glad you made it!" Van said, holding his friend closer. Suddenly, Hitomi fainted and Allen was able to catch her. "She has a fever. Van!" Allen called out. "Pick her up and follow me!" he ordered as the two brought the girls inside to rest.
"Folken! The dragon has almost disappeared! Distortion has begun to appear in the image of our ideal future!" Emperor Dornkirk told him in the main throne room, Dilandau kneeling before him. "If the dragon slips from our fingers, there is no telling how profound the impact on our future might be! Find the dragon!!" he ordered, his image disappearing. "Yes, your majesty," Folken replied. Dilandau stood up and prepared to leave. "Where are you going?" he ordered. "Where do you think? To launch an attack! We know where the dragon is located!" Dilandau replied. "Asturia is our ally." "Such a pity. But you see, if we wait for the politicians, our prey will get away." "Why are you in such a hurry?" he asked, his voice quivering. The door opened before Dilandau as he laughed. "If we use your stealth cloaks, there won't be any evidence that Zaibach was behind the attack, right? And besides, Lybra and I have to finish what we have started," he laughed. Folken's eyes narrowed as he growled. Dilandau left the room to prepare for the attack, contemplating on what to do to Lybra once she's in his possession.
"I'm sorry.I'm such trouble," Hitomi said as Allen placed a wet cloth on her forehead. "Don't worry. Besides, there's no way I'll let any of the other guys take care of you," he replied. "The Earth." Hitomi said, staring out of her window. "I bet my mom is really worried about me." "I bet she is," Allen said. Hitomi gazed at Allen, admiring his beauty. "I imagine that your mother was very beautiful, Allen," she said, blushing. "She was.my mother passed away while I was still very young," he said becoming totally serious. Hitomi gasped. "I'm so sorry!" "Don't be sorry. It was a long time ago." Allen stared out the window with Hitomi, gazing at the Mystic Moon. "You're right though. My mother was so very beautiful. She was very gentle and she loved flowers," he explained, remembering a day of his childhood. He remembered his little sister handing him a bouquet of flowers, smiling. "Then, one day my sister was spirited away without a trace. After that day, my mother wasted away.and then she." he began, not finishing as he remembered the cold rainy day of his mother's funeral. "If my sister were still alive, she'd be about your age," he said, holding Hitomi's hand. "You know, it's kind of strange. I don't know why I'm telling you this." Allen. Oh, I just told Amano how I felt and now this? Am I really that fickle? she questioned in her mind as she wondered how her first love was doing back home. "Not another one of your so-called romantic tales." Hitomi looked by the door and saw the female soldier she saw before. "What are you getting at Lybra?" Allen questioned. "You think the king of Fanelia is being drowned in sap? Why don't you tell her other interesting stories? As long as she's here, I'm sure she would rather hear about culture than a depressing past." she explained. "And don't question me, Allen. I'm a woman, so I know what women like." "OK then, what would you suggest that would interest a woman?" Allen asked. "Excuse me," Hitomi began. "But do you know any good legends or myths? I'm really into those." "There's plenty of wonderful legends of this world, but there's really only one I find intriguing," Lybra replied. "What's it called?" Hitomi asked. "It really has no name since it is also the truth. Allen, I believe you refer it as the Forbidden Legend." "Not this story again. Lybra, that cannot happen, even in a myth!" Allen protested. "What's the Forbidden Legend?" Hitomi asked. "Allow me to explain." Lybra began.
"OW! That's going to leave a mark!" the mole-man screamed as Van pulled him up by the face hair. "Oh, it's you young king! What brings you down to the dungeon?" "You live in the forest. You must know of plants that neutralize most poisons," Van declared. The man nodded as he pulled out the leaves with orange tints to them. "You know about these?" he asked as Van took the leaves. "My brother told me about them," he said as he crumbled up the leaves into a nearby bowl. "Hey old man! Come over here! Hurry up! Hold this bowl" he ordered. The mole-man mumbled as he held the bowl so Van can crush the leaves with the hilt of his sword.
"It began a very long time ago, when a race of winged beings known as angels once ruled the world of Gaia," Lybra said, beginning her tale. Angels?! Are these the same angels I saw in my dream?! "These angels prospered and lived for many years, but unfortunately their peace was not to last. Eventually their power grew too high for them to handle and instead of improving their survival, they began to destroy themselves one by one." "Oh no! What happened?" Hitomi questioned, now noticing that Van was nowhere to be found. Merle was sound asleep. "These angels poured their powers to create a being to help save them, but the being was born corrupted and began to slaughter them all. The survivors escaped to create a new land and they began to live again. To this day that being-a demon if you wish to call it-is still roaming the world searching for the last of the angels. Only when they are all dead can the demon rest in peace." Demon? That's also like my dream when I picked up the Scale card! Could I have seen the legend actually happen? "Lybra, there was no such thing as a demon who killed angels. That's why it's forbidden to tell the tale," Allen explained. "This is no tale! I've seen it with my own eyes and have been victimized by it too!" Lybra replied. "Is that where you got those scars from?" Hitomi asked, gazing at her scars once again. "No. These were gifts from Dilandau. Someday, when he least expects it." "Good luck then. He's a lot trickier than you think," Allen interrupted. "Have you ever been abused by him? Thought so. You'll never have to face the tortures that Dilandau does to me. I don't know why, but he loves to torture and hurt me," Lybra explained. "If you'll excuse me Hitomi. I am needed with my soldiers," Allen said, walking up to Gaddess. The two soldiers left the room and Lybra gazed at the nearby table, noticing a pile of cards. "What are these?" Lybra asked, picking up the deck of cards. "These aren't like any other cards I've seen before." "They're tarot cards," Hitomi replied. "Really, then how do you use them? And what do they do?" "I'll show you," Hitomi said, taking the deck from Lybra's hands. She arranged the cards and laid them about in front of her. "OK, pick up the two top cards." Lybra took the top card on her right. "The Ace of Serpents? What does that mean?" Lybra asked, gazing at the card. "As a fortune, it tells that you have great courage. But I remember getting that card a few days ago and then Van came and slew the dragon that began everything," Hitomi explained. "I see now. So do I take the other one?" Hitomi nodded and Lybra picked up the other card to her left. "The Scale? What does that mean?" Hitomi gasped. Oh no! Not again!
Hitomi was once again wrapped in darkness. She could see angels flying around her. This made her feel a little more comfortable, but then she felt coldness behind her. She looked behind her and could see the demon with violet wings. The demon drew its swords and sliced all the angels but one. Hitomi recognized the last angel as the one she saw in her visions before. Hitomi screamed before the angel was sliced in two. Why are you doing this?! Hitomi cried in her vision. The demon turned to her, its depthless eye glowing at her. The demon laughed before swooping down to her, jamming the swords into her chest.
"Hey! Lady! Snap out of it!!" Lybra cried, shaking her. "What?" "You OK? You look like you've seen ghosts around here!!" "I think I was." Hitomi replied softly. She gazed down at the floor and noticed all of her tarot cards scattered on the floor. "Oh no! The cards.!" Lybra placed a hand on her forehead. "You're fever's acting up again. Don't worry about your cards. I'll clean them all up and get you more medication," Lybra said, beginning to pick up the cards and looking at them. What was up with that? Is that how see can see visions? Through these cards? And what did she see when I picked up the Scale card? She soon picked up all the cards and ran through the door. "Don't worry Lady! I'll be back in a flash!" "Please, it's Hitomi." "OK then, Hitomi, I'll be back with your medication." "What's your name?" Hitomi asked. "Lybra."
"Looks like you believe those old wives tales too, commander," Gaddess said as the rest of the soldiers suited up and prepared in case of an attack. "What would make you say that?" Allen asked. "Well, all these emergency combat preparations for one. Guess that girl from the Mystic Moon has you worried, huh?" "What makes me worried is the madness in Dilandau's eyes. His thirst for blood is reflected in them. And now that he found Lybra here, he'll be twice as deadly. His armies showed up because they knew that the Escaflowne was here. If they attack, they will make sure that there is not one structure left standing," Allen explained. "No survivors means no witnesses. Gaddess! I want you to prep the Crusade!" Gaddess rode off as Allen asked when Dilandau was coming in his mind. As long we can keep Lybra and the Escaflowne away from him, Dilandau won't ensure victory.
That cat's is looking this way! Hitomi thought. Ugh! It's that girl from the Mystic Moon! Merle thought. She's got short weird hair. Weird clothes too! She's got cat written all over her! Those ears, that tail.she's so bizarre! They continued to stare at each other until Merle just caught on to something. She noticed Hitomi was on a bed and looked down at where she was. Why the heck did I get stuck with a bench?! she thought, hissing at Hitomi. Oh no. She looks mad about something! Huh? Something's coming! she thought, seeing another short vision. She opened her eyes and screamed when she saw the mole-man directly above her. Van stepped into the room. "Hey! Where have you been? You have a couple of sick people here!" Van walked over to Merle and rubbed some of the ointment he made on Merle's wound on her left arm. Merle sighed, then made a face at Hitomi. Van turned around and threw Hitomi's covers off her. "HEY! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" she screamed. "Hold still," Van said, applying the ointment on her left thigh. "Some plant poison got in the wound. This will help the fever." "Van." Hitomi sighed, blushing. She suddenly gasped, "They're here! The invisible giants!!"
A giant claw appeared and fired at the castle, just as they did in Fanelia. Troops were burned as they retaliated, flinging rocks from catapults at the giants. "Those must be the invisible giants!" Allen exclaimed. "Oh man, it's the curse of the Mystic Moon!" one of the soldiers cried. "It's Zaibach, you idiot!" Gaddess corrected. "Gaddess, I'm going out in Scherizad!" Allen said. The giants blew more fire at the troops. "That's perfect! Destroy everything! Set it all on fire! We're going to smoke out Escaflowne!!" Dilandau shouted, licking his lips. "Damn the lot of you Zaibach!!!" Allen cursed inside Scherizad. "Allen!! Where's the Escaflowne?" Van shouted, running towards him. "Don't worry. It's been loaded onto the Crusade as well as the Jemineye," he replied. BR"Jemineye?" "The castle has fallen! We must withdraw!" "What? You're running? After what they did to your men?!" Van shouted, pointing out all the casualties to Allen. "I musn't allow any further loss of life!" "And you call yourself a Samurai!" Van exclaimed, ripping out his sword. "I won't run! I'll never turn my back and run from an enemy! To make them pay for what they did to the people of Fanelia, I will fight to the death!!" "There is nothing brave about rashly choosing to die!! Van, you are the king of Fanelia and as long as Fanelia has a king and a people, Fanelia has a future!!! A Samurai's life meant is to save others. Never forget that!!" Van sheathed his sword and he stepped into Scherizad's hand. "I won't hand over you or the Escaflowne. You have the word of Allen Schezar." Scherizad began to walk away, ready to meet up with everyone at the Crusade.
"Don't worry. It will take a lot more than that to damage a limestone cave," Gaddess said as the cave around them began to rumble. They found the large airship and boarded onto it, meeting the rest of the soldiers, but two weren't present. "Where's Allen?" Hitomi asked. "Where's Lord Van? Isn't he here?" Merle asked. "No, he's not," Lybra replied. "We'll meet up with them later. Wave the anchor!" Gaddess ordered. "Set sail!" Hitomi and Merle gazed out the windows of the Crusade as it sailed through the limestone cave.
"Burn! Burn!! BURN!!!" Dilandau screamed, increasing the strength of the flames. {This is foolish!} Dilandau heard Folken said over the intercom. {How long are you going to continue with this senseless slaughter?!} "But this is the best way of destroying the evidence!" Dilandau replied. "All we have to do now is capture the Escaflowne! Once it's smoked out!!" {Do you honestly think that Allen Schezar of Asturia will do something as foolish as letting himself being hurt by fire?} Folken questioned. "What do you mean?" {The waterfall behind the castle.they say that birds build nests behind the waterfall to prevent them from being attacked.} "WHAT?! They're BEHIND the castle?!" Dilandau screamed. {Withdraw immediately! Don't think that Emperor Dornkirk isn't going to hear about this!} "I'm not backing off now!" Dilandau shouted. "I'm not leaving until I get the Escaflowne and Lybra in my grasp!" {Leave Lybra out of this! She has nothing to do with this burning!} Folken screamed. Dilandau laughed, remembering what he said to Lybra earlier in the day. "Don't worry, Folken. I'll bring Lybra to you." Dilandau mocked. He could hear Folken gasp and smiled evilly. ".after I deal with her of course." He could see Scherizad jumping off the cliff and onto the Crusade. Dilandau approached the cliff along with his cronies. "Not bad you bunch of pipsqueeks! I'm going to swat you out of the sky! So get ready!!" Dilandau said. "Yes, but you realize that we can't use our stealth cloaks in flight mode!" one of his soldiers commented. "Well then kill anyone who sees you!!" Dilandau shouted, slapping the Guymelef. The melefs shifted as they levitated into the air.
"Where are we headed?" Van asked. "To the capital of Asturia. Their floating fortress can't keep up with us," Allen replied. Suddenly he noticed a swarm of Zaibach Guymelefs zooming towards them. "Look! It's them!" Van exclaimed. "What?! Their Guymelefs can fly?!" Allen questioned. Dilandau's Guymelef landed on the Crusade. Scherizad charged at Dilandau with its sword. "Allen! Above you!" Hitomi shouted. Allen gazed up and saw another Guymelef flying above him, ready to slice him in two. He dodged it in time as it flew into the ravine. Another Guymelef crashed into one of the sails, breaking it. Everyone's in trouble! And it's all because of the Escaflowne!! Van thought. He remembered what Allen told him and raced down to the storage room on the Crusade, hopping into Escaflowne. Escaflowne fell off the Crusade and suddenly shifted into a large dragon, Van piloting it on its back. "Escaflowne has morphed into a dragon!" Allen confirmed. "Dragon? So that's the dragon that Emperor Dornkirk was talking about!" Dilandau said, watching the Escaflowne fly away. Dilandau flew after him as well as a few others. Hitomi and Merle watched Van lure them away, not noticing Lybra backing away. "Lybra!! Where are you going?!" Gaddess asked. Lybra did not reply and ran into the storage room, preparing Jemineye for its first real battle. Allen fought off more Guymelefs on the ship and watched Jemineye fly after Escaflowne and Dilandau. Van, don't get yourself killed! You be careful too Lybra! Allen thought. "Turn the ship around! We've got to save Van!" Hitomi begged. "We can't do that now. Our sail's been hit and the runner's not responding," he replied. "Oh no! Lybra! Stop!" Merle screamed.
"That's right, follow me!" Van shouted, watching Dilandau following him. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of another Guymelef catching up to him. "Van! Wait up!" "What are you doing Lybra?!" "I have a score to settle with Dilandau here and now! I won't let him kill you! I'll cover your back!" he replied, pulling out two large rapiers from Jemineye. "I haven't hunted dragons in a long time. This is going to be so much fun!!" Dilandau laughed. "The Escaflowne and Lybra are mine!!"
Was it all just a dream? Or maybe it was a vision. No, it was real. The cards warned me it all was going to happen! I found myself transported to the kingdom of Asturia and there I met an angel by the name of Allen Schezar. When his giant defeated Escaflowne, I was overcome by a terrifying vision!
"What's the matter, Hitomi?" Allen asked, hopping out of Scherizad. "You have to get out of here! Take everyone and get far away! The invisible army is coming to attack you!" Hitomi screamed. "I'm sorry. Perhaps seeing two melefs fight was too much for you," Allen replied. And Folken told me to go to the Mystic Moon. Did he know I'd be surrounded by freaks like her? Lybra thought. "No! It's dangerous! Listen to me! Everything is going to be swallowed by flames!" Hitomi shouted in protest. Allen's armies stared at her. "Please, you've got to believe me! The invisible giants that attacked Fanelia will burn everything down! I saw it! Please listen!" she begged. "She's giving me the creeps," one of the soldiers said. "Haven't you heard? Rumor has it that she came from the Mystic Moon and everyone knows that place is cursed!" another soldier replied. "You believe in curses? How pitiful!" Lybra exclaimed as they were asking each other if the castle will indeed be attacked. "That's enough! Soldiers of Asturia aren't afraid of old wives tales!" he replied hard, glaring at them. He knelt back down to Hitomi. "I apologize. Forgive them. You're tired. You should rest inside," he said, returning to his suave and calm voice. "Commander!" Allen faced a soldier racing towards them on a horse. "We caught someone suspicious out in the forest! We've brought the prisoner." Everyone faced them as another soldier on horseback approached with a young cat-like girl. "Merle!" Van gasped, racing towards her. She had burns all over her body and had her hands tied behind her back and her feet tied together. "Van!" she screamed, hopping out of the soldier's arms, collapsing to the ground. Van quickly untied her and Hitomi and Allen ran up to them. "You know her?" Allen questioned. "Yes, she's from Fanelia," Hitomi replied. "Lord Van, I've finally found you," Merle weakly said.
"What about Fanelia?" Van quickly asked. "It was horrible!" Merle replied. Van narrowed his eyes, remember what Allen told him a few moments ago. "It burned! It all burned to the ground!" Merle said, clinging to Van as she cried. Van was frozen stiff. He just couldn't believe that his vast kingdom was so easily destroyed in a matter of moments. Hitomi could see what happened after they were transported as Merle continued her story. "All the Samurai at the castle were killed! The survivors were scattered! Everyone was gone! I was so alone! I tried so hard to find you, Lord Van! I was so scared!" Merle sighed and fainted in Van's arms. "Merle.I'm so glad you made it!" Van said, holding his friend closer. Suddenly, Hitomi fainted and Allen was able to catch her. "She has a fever. Van!" Allen called out. "Pick her up and follow me!" he ordered as the two brought the girls inside to rest.
"Folken! The dragon has almost disappeared! Distortion has begun to appear in the image of our ideal future!" Emperor Dornkirk told him in the main throne room, Dilandau kneeling before him. "If the dragon slips from our fingers, there is no telling how profound the impact on our future might be! Find the dragon!!" he ordered, his image disappearing. "Yes, your majesty," Folken replied. Dilandau stood up and prepared to leave. "Where are you going?" he ordered. "Where do you think? To launch an attack! We know where the dragon is located!" Dilandau replied. "Asturia is our ally." "Such a pity. But you see, if we wait for the politicians, our prey will get away." "Why are you in such a hurry?" he asked, his voice quivering. The door opened before Dilandau as he laughed. "If we use your stealth cloaks, there won't be any evidence that Zaibach was behind the attack, right? And besides, Lybra and I have to finish what we have started," he laughed. Folken's eyes narrowed as he growled. Dilandau left the room to prepare for the attack, contemplating on what to do to Lybra once she's in his possession.
"I'm sorry.I'm such trouble," Hitomi said as Allen placed a wet cloth on her forehead. "Don't worry. Besides, there's no way I'll let any of the other guys take care of you," he replied. "The Earth." Hitomi said, staring out of her window. "I bet my mom is really worried about me." "I bet she is," Allen said. Hitomi gazed at Allen, admiring his beauty. "I imagine that your mother was very beautiful, Allen," she said, blushing. "She was.my mother passed away while I was still very young," he said becoming totally serious. Hitomi gasped. "I'm so sorry!" "Don't be sorry. It was a long time ago." Allen stared out the window with Hitomi, gazing at the Mystic Moon. "You're right though. My mother was so very beautiful. She was very gentle and she loved flowers," he explained, remembering a day of his childhood. He remembered his little sister handing him a bouquet of flowers, smiling. "Then, one day my sister was spirited away without a trace. After that day, my mother wasted away.and then she." he began, not finishing as he remembered the cold rainy day of his mother's funeral. "If my sister were still alive, she'd be about your age," he said, holding Hitomi's hand. "You know, it's kind of strange. I don't know why I'm telling you this." Allen. Oh, I just told Amano how I felt and now this? Am I really that fickle? she questioned in her mind as she wondered how her first love was doing back home. "Not another one of your so-called romantic tales." Hitomi looked by the door and saw the female soldier she saw before. "What are you getting at Lybra?" Allen questioned. "You think the king of Fanelia is being drowned in sap? Why don't you tell her other interesting stories? As long as she's here, I'm sure she would rather hear about culture than a depressing past." she explained. "And don't question me, Allen. I'm a woman, so I know what women like." "OK then, what would you suggest that would interest a woman?" Allen asked. "Excuse me," Hitomi began. "But do you know any good legends or myths? I'm really into those." "There's plenty of wonderful legends of this world, but there's really only one I find intriguing," Lybra replied. "What's it called?" Hitomi asked. "It really has no name since it is also the truth. Allen, I believe you refer it as the Forbidden Legend." "Not this story again. Lybra, that cannot happen, even in a myth!" Allen protested. "What's the Forbidden Legend?" Hitomi asked. "Allow me to explain." Lybra began.
"OW! That's going to leave a mark!" the mole-man screamed as Van pulled him up by the face hair. "Oh, it's you young king! What brings you down to the dungeon?" "You live in the forest. You must know of plants that neutralize most poisons," Van declared. The man nodded as he pulled out the leaves with orange tints to them. "You know about these?" he asked as Van took the leaves. "My brother told me about them," he said as he crumbled up the leaves into a nearby bowl. "Hey old man! Come over here! Hurry up! Hold this bowl" he ordered. The mole-man mumbled as he held the bowl so Van can crush the leaves with the hilt of his sword.
"It began a very long time ago, when a race of winged beings known as angels once ruled the world of Gaia," Lybra said, beginning her tale. Angels?! Are these the same angels I saw in my dream?! "These angels prospered and lived for many years, but unfortunately their peace was not to last. Eventually their power grew too high for them to handle and instead of improving their survival, they began to destroy themselves one by one." "Oh no! What happened?" Hitomi questioned, now noticing that Van was nowhere to be found. Merle was sound asleep. "These angels poured their powers to create a being to help save them, but the being was born corrupted and began to slaughter them all. The survivors escaped to create a new land and they began to live again. To this day that being-a demon if you wish to call it-is still roaming the world searching for the last of the angels. Only when they are all dead can the demon rest in peace." Demon? That's also like my dream when I picked up the Scale card! Could I have seen the legend actually happen? "Lybra, there was no such thing as a demon who killed angels. That's why it's forbidden to tell the tale," Allen explained. "This is no tale! I've seen it with my own eyes and have been victimized by it too!" Lybra replied. "Is that where you got those scars from?" Hitomi asked, gazing at her scars once again. "No. These were gifts from Dilandau. Someday, when he least expects it." "Good luck then. He's a lot trickier than you think," Allen interrupted. "Have you ever been abused by him? Thought so. You'll never have to face the tortures that Dilandau does to me. I don't know why, but he loves to torture and hurt me," Lybra explained. "If you'll excuse me Hitomi. I am needed with my soldiers," Allen said, walking up to Gaddess. The two soldiers left the room and Lybra gazed at the nearby table, noticing a pile of cards. "What are these?" Lybra asked, picking up the deck of cards. "These aren't like any other cards I've seen before." "They're tarot cards," Hitomi replied. "Really, then how do you use them? And what do they do?" "I'll show you," Hitomi said, taking the deck from Lybra's hands. She arranged the cards and laid them about in front of her. "OK, pick up the two top cards." Lybra took the top card on her right. "The Ace of Serpents? What does that mean?" Lybra asked, gazing at the card. "As a fortune, it tells that you have great courage. But I remember getting that card a few days ago and then Van came and slew the dragon that began everything," Hitomi explained. "I see now. So do I take the other one?" Hitomi nodded and Lybra picked up the other card to her left. "The Scale? What does that mean?" Hitomi gasped. Oh no! Not again!
Hitomi was once again wrapped in darkness. She could see angels flying around her. This made her feel a little more comfortable, but then she felt coldness behind her. She looked behind her and could see the demon with violet wings. The demon drew its swords and sliced all the angels but one. Hitomi recognized the last angel as the one she saw in her visions before. Hitomi screamed before the angel was sliced in two. Why are you doing this?! Hitomi cried in her vision. The demon turned to her, its depthless eye glowing at her. The demon laughed before swooping down to her, jamming the swords into her chest.
"Hey! Lady! Snap out of it!!" Lybra cried, shaking her. "What?" "You OK? You look like you've seen ghosts around here!!" "I think I was." Hitomi replied softly. She gazed down at the floor and noticed all of her tarot cards scattered on the floor. "Oh no! The cards.!" Lybra placed a hand on her forehead. "You're fever's acting up again. Don't worry about your cards. I'll clean them all up and get you more medication," Lybra said, beginning to pick up the cards and looking at them. What was up with that? Is that how see can see visions? Through these cards? And what did she see when I picked up the Scale card? She soon picked up all the cards and ran through the door. "Don't worry Lady! I'll be back in a flash!" "Please, it's Hitomi." "OK then, Hitomi, I'll be back with your medication." "What's your name?" Hitomi asked. "Lybra."
"Looks like you believe those old wives tales too, commander," Gaddess said as the rest of the soldiers suited up and prepared in case of an attack. "What would make you say that?" Allen asked. "Well, all these emergency combat preparations for one. Guess that girl from the Mystic Moon has you worried, huh?" "What makes me worried is the madness in Dilandau's eyes. His thirst for blood is reflected in them. And now that he found Lybra here, he'll be twice as deadly. His armies showed up because they knew that the Escaflowne was here. If they attack, they will make sure that there is not one structure left standing," Allen explained. "No survivors means no witnesses. Gaddess! I want you to prep the Crusade!" Gaddess rode off as Allen asked when Dilandau was coming in his mind. As long we can keep Lybra and the Escaflowne away from him, Dilandau won't ensure victory.
That cat's is looking this way! Hitomi thought. Ugh! It's that girl from the Mystic Moon! Merle thought. She's got short weird hair. Weird clothes too! She's got cat written all over her! Those ears, that tail.she's so bizarre! They continued to stare at each other until Merle just caught on to something. She noticed Hitomi was on a bed and looked down at where she was. Why the heck did I get stuck with a bench?! she thought, hissing at Hitomi. Oh no. She looks mad about something! Huh? Something's coming! she thought, seeing another short vision. She opened her eyes and screamed when she saw the mole-man directly above her. Van stepped into the room. "Hey! Where have you been? You have a couple of sick people here!" Van walked over to Merle and rubbed some of the ointment he made on Merle's wound on her left arm. Merle sighed, then made a face at Hitomi. Van turned around and threw Hitomi's covers off her. "HEY! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" she screamed. "Hold still," Van said, applying the ointment on her left thigh. "Some plant poison got in the wound. This will help the fever." "Van." Hitomi sighed, blushing. She suddenly gasped, "They're here! The invisible giants!!"
A giant claw appeared and fired at the castle, just as they did in Fanelia. Troops were burned as they retaliated, flinging rocks from catapults at the giants. "Those must be the invisible giants!" Allen exclaimed. "Oh man, it's the curse of the Mystic Moon!" one of the soldiers cried. "It's Zaibach, you idiot!" Gaddess corrected. "Gaddess, I'm going out in Scherizad!" Allen said. The giants blew more fire at the troops. "That's perfect! Destroy everything! Set it all on fire! We're going to smoke out Escaflowne!!" Dilandau shouted, licking his lips. "Damn the lot of you Zaibach!!!" Allen cursed inside Scherizad. "Allen!! Where's the Escaflowne?" Van shouted, running towards him. "Don't worry. It's been loaded onto the Crusade as well as the Jemineye," he replied. BR"Jemineye?" "The castle has fallen! We must withdraw!" "What? You're running? After what they did to your men?!" Van shouted, pointing out all the casualties to Allen. "I musn't allow any further loss of life!" "And you call yourself a Samurai!" Van exclaimed, ripping out his sword. "I won't run! I'll never turn my back and run from an enemy! To make them pay for what they did to the people of Fanelia, I will fight to the death!!" "There is nothing brave about rashly choosing to die!! Van, you are the king of Fanelia and as long as Fanelia has a king and a people, Fanelia has a future!!! A Samurai's life meant is to save others. Never forget that!!" Van sheathed his sword and he stepped into Scherizad's hand. "I won't hand over you or the Escaflowne. You have the word of Allen Schezar." Scherizad began to walk away, ready to meet up with everyone at the Crusade.
"Don't worry. It will take a lot more than that to damage a limestone cave," Gaddess said as the cave around them began to rumble. They found the large airship and boarded onto it, meeting the rest of the soldiers, but two weren't present. "Where's Allen?" Hitomi asked. "Where's Lord Van? Isn't he here?" Merle asked. "No, he's not," Lybra replied. "We'll meet up with them later. Wave the anchor!" Gaddess ordered. "Set sail!" Hitomi and Merle gazed out the windows of the Crusade as it sailed through the limestone cave.
"Burn! Burn!! BURN!!!" Dilandau screamed, increasing the strength of the flames. {This is foolish!} Dilandau heard Folken said over the intercom. {How long are you going to continue with this senseless slaughter?!} "But this is the best way of destroying the evidence!" Dilandau replied. "All we have to do now is capture the Escaflowne! Once it's smoked out!!" {Do you honestly think that Allen Schezar of Asturia will do something as foolish as letting himself being hurt by fire?} Folken questioned. "What do you mean?" {The waterfall behind the castle.they say that birds build nests behind the waterfall to prevent them from being attacked.} "WHAT?! They're BEHIND the castle?!" Dilandau screamed. {Withdraw immediately! Don't think that Emperor Dornkirk isn't going to hear about this!} "I'm not backing off now!" Dilandau shouted. "I'm not leaving until I get the Escaflowne and Lybra in my grasp!" {Leave Lybra out of this! She has nothing to do with this burning!} Folken screamed. Dilandau laughed, remembering what he said to Lybra earlier in the day. "Don't worry, Folken. I'll bring Lybra to you." Dilandau mocked. He could hear Folken gasp and smiled evilly. ".after I deal with her of course." He could see Scherizad jumping off the cliff and onto the Crusade. Dilandau approached the cliff along with his cronies. "Not bad you bunch of pipsqueeks! I'm going to swat you out of the sky! So get ready!!" Dilandau said. "Yes, but you realize that we can't use our stealth cloaks in flight mode!" one of his soldiers commented. "Well then kill anyone who sees you!!" Dilandau shouted, slapping the Guymelef. The melefs shifted as they levitated into the air.
"Where are we headed?" Van asked. "To the capital of Asturia. Their floating fortress can't keep up with us," Allen replied. Suddenly he noticed a swarm of Zaibach Guymelefs zooming towards them. "Look! It's them!" Van exclaimed. "What?! Their Guymelefs can fly?!" Allen questioned. Dilandau's Guymelef landed on the Crusade. Scherizad charged at Dilandau with its sword. "Allen! Above you!" Hitomi shouted. Allen gazed up and saw another Guymelef flying above him, ready to slice him in two. He dodged it in time as it flew into the ravine. Another Guymelef crashed into one of the sails, breaking it. Everyone's in trouble! And it's all because of the Escaflowne!! Van thought. He remembered what Allen told him and raced down to the storage room on the Crusade, hopping into Escaflowne. Escaflowne fell off the Crusade and suddenly shifted into a large dragon, Van piloting it on its back. "Escaflowne has morphed into a dragon!" Allen confirmed. "Dragon? So that's the dragon that Emperor Dornkirk was talking about!" Dilandau said, watching the Escaflowne fly away. Dilandau flew after him as well as a few others. Hitomi and Merle watched Van lure them away, not noticing Lybra backing away. "Lybra!! Where are you going?!" Gaddess asked. Lybra did not reply and ran into the storage room, preparing Jemineye for its first real battle. Allen fought off more Guymelefs on the ship and watched Jemineye fly after Escaflowne and Dilandau. Van, don't get yourself killed! You be careful too Lybra! Allen thought. "Turn the ship around! We've got to save Van!" Hitomi begged. "We can't do that now. Our sail's been hit and the runner's not responding," he replied. "Oh no! Lybra! Stop!" Merle screamed.
"That's right, follow me!" Van shouted, watching Dilandau following him. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of another Guymelef catching up to him. "Van! Wait up!" "What are you doing Lybra?!" "I have a score to settle with Dilandau here and now! I won't let him kill you! I'll cover your back!" he replied, pulling out two large rapiers from Jemineye. "I haven't hunted dragons in a long time. This is going to be so much fun!!" Dilandau laughed. "The Escaflowne and Lybra are mine!!"