Part Two Transformation

Hitomi sat up against a tree and sighed in defeat. "It's been three days and I still haven't found the cave." She said. She reached into her pouch and brought out a canteen. She drank a bit and looked around. Closing her eyes, she tried to concentrate on where she needed to go. She put her hands over her heart and thought hard. Please tell me where I need to go.

Suddenly, Hitomi got a strong sense to her left. She opened her eyes in surprise and looked over to the west. What do her eyes see? A cave! There it was! But, wasn't that just a wall? It didn't matter. Now that she found the cave, she would get the stone. With new determination, she entered the cave.

When she stepped past the entrance, the wall suddenly collapsed. She screamed and ran deeper into the cave. She'd have to find another way out, once she got the stone. I'm not leaving without the Rhinestone of Life.

In the air, Van scanned the ground frantically for Hitomi. "We have to get to her soon." He told Merle, who was seated besides him. "I can't let her be joined in my fate!" He said.

Merle's eyes went wide. "What do you mean Lord Van?"

Van sighed and looked down. "My mother once told me about the Rhinestone of Life. It was said to have been used by the Mystic Magicians. They were one of the few friends the Draconians had. But, another magician, a rival of theirs put a curse on it. He said that when anyone ever touched it, it would transform them into a draconian. A cruel fate for anyone. Being chased down your whole life for being a demon."

Merle was shocked. She only thought it healed Fanelians. She looked down in shame. "I'm sorry." She said.

Van smiled kindly at her. "It's okay. It wasn't your fault. You didn't know. Very few do. We just have to get to her before she gets there." He said.

He went back to scanning the ground and saw the flash of light. He narrowed his eyes and…there! He saw her. Then all of a sudden, the wall to the west, revealed a cave. The Cave of Rebirth! He saw Hitomi smiled with joy and ran there as fast as she could.

"No! Hitomi stop!" He cried.

"Hitomi!" Merle yelled. But it was no use. She didn't hear them and she entered the cave. Van took Escaflowne down and was prepared to land next to the cave, when it abruptly caved in.

"What!" He exclaimed.

"A booby trap! The cave's full of them!" Merle said.

Fear ran through Van's body as he pulled up Escaflowne. He reared it back and blasted the cave's entrance. He brought down the dragon and helped Merle down. "Come on! We've got to save her!" He said as he and Merle entered the cave.

Hitomi heard the cave blast and ran away from the shards of rock that blew in. She continued to walk and came to a narrow passageway. She didn't like the sight of it. Something was wrong.

Then in the distance, she saw a light pink color. Almost the color of Van's energist. She started down the passageway and heard a rumbling. The walls on either side of her started to burst open. From them came giant blades. They began to slide back and forth. "Oh great." She said.

Hitomi hesitated for a second, and then ran through the passageway, none stop. She made it to the other end and stopped for a breather. She saw the glow grow and stepped forward to the Rhinestone of Life. She began to reach out to it and slowly wrapped her fingers around it.

Merle led the search, following Hitomi's scent. They came to a passageway that had blades going back and forth. "How did she get through that?!" Van asked in amazement.

"She's driven by a very strong power." Merle said. Van looked down at her in bewilderment. So Merle added. "Love."

Van was shocked. "Hitomi loves me?" He asked.

Merle didn't speak, just nodded. Van looked through the blades and saw Hitomi's small form. "Hitomi!" He cried. But she couldn't hear him over the sound of the blades.

Van summoned his courage and ran as fast as he could through the blades.

"Lord Van!" Merle cried, but she couldn't follow him.

Van made it through the passageway, just in time to see Hitomi pick up the stone. "No! Hitomi! Don't!" He warned.

Hitomi was startled at Van's sudden appearance and jumped. In doing so, she dropped the stone. It fell to the floor and cracked into two identical pieces! "Van? What are you…"Hitomi suddenly felt pain throughout her whole body, she clutched her stomach and fell to her knees.

Van ran to her side and held her body close to his. She screamed out in pain as blood began to soak her back. Van touched the blood and looked at the reddish color on his fingers. "It has begun."

Hitomi clutched Van's shirt in an attempt to stop the pain, but it was no use. The pain wouldn't stop. It began to shift and transfer to her back. She felt the warmth of her blood soak her blouse.

Hitomi was then surrounded by a light pink aura. She looked up at Van and felt a single tear roll down her cheek. "It hurts." She whispered.

Van held her tighter and she stroked her hand on his face. The Rhinestone of Life began to pulse with it's inner light and the two halves started to float into the air. The two pieces floated over to Van and Hitomi. One half went right through Van's chest and his wings suddenly sprouted from his back, sending pain through his body.

The other half went into Hitomi and she shrieked in pain as she two spouted Draconian wings. Her hair began to grow and reached a length Van had only seen his mother with. That's why Draconian's always had long hair. At least the woman did.

Hitomi feints from the ordeal and Van holds her closer, wrapping his wings around her. Little did he know, a shadow moved in the corners of the cave. Its red eyes glowed and it dashed away.

Tears run down Van's cheeks, and he looks at Hitomi with sad eyes. "It always hurts the most, the first time."

Van carried Hitomi out of the cave, Merle following behind. After the incident, both Van's wings and Hitomi's wings retracted, leaving only bloody scars behind. Van wrapped Hitomi's wounds, then his own. Once they had exited the cave, they found they were no farther than a mile from Escaflowne.

Van carried Hitomi all the way to Escaflowne without so much as a word. Merle was scared. Is he mad at me? Of course he is. I just cursed his true love. Merle thought.

"Merle." Van said. "Go prepare a bed for Hitomi. We'll stay here tonight."

Merle began to walk over to Escaflowne and do as she was told, when Van's voice stopped her. "Thank you." He said.

Merle's ears perked up to make sure she heard right. She turned to Lord Van in surprise. He smiled at her. "Thank you for telling me where she was. I am grateful."

Merle was shocked. "But I…I sent her here. You…aren't mad at me?" She asked.

Van shook his head and peered into Hitomi's face. "If you hadn't told me… A lot worse could've happened. At least now I can help her…cope with her new appearance. I'll let her know, she's not alone."

"That's why she went in the first place. She knew the wings hurt you, so she went to get the stone to end your suffering. She said, 'No one should ever be alone.' She went for you, Lord Van. She wanted to let you know, you could depend on her." Merle said and turned away. Van just stared at Hitomi with shock and wonder. Merle then added quietly so Van couldn't here. "It seems now though, you can depend on each other."

Van and Merle made camp, while Hitomi was still unconscious. Van didn't know how to proceed. How could he explain, that people would now see her as demon. A person who is told to be the destroyer of Atlantis. How could he teach her how to use her knew strength?

How will Van help Hitomi? Is she permanently transformed? Find out in Chapter Three.