Hitomi was the first one to wake up. She gathered the sheet around her, and proceeded onto the bathroom. Before she did that though, she took a look around the room. It was bigger than hers, and had a nice décor of armours and swords. Hitomi admired Van's taste. The room had a certain touch of home. All of a sudden, a sick feeling came over her. Hitomi put a hand on her stomach. She hoped she wasn't pregnant. It would have been too soon, and too hectic. She was sure the war would begin any minute now.
"No," Hitomi decided. The feeling was that same familiar feeling she got just when something bad was going to happen, only this time it was stronger. Hitomi closed her eyes, and all of a sudden, hundreds of Zaibach floating fortresses appeared in front of her eyes. They were heading for Fanelia. No wait, they were already in Fanelia. She could see the destruction they left behind. The country was burned to ashes once again. Hitomi jumped out of the bathtub.
"Van, wake up, it began, the war began, wake up Van." Hitomi yelled as she exited the bathroom in a hurry.
"What? Already?" he jumped out of bed. "It figures, not like we get any time to ourselves." he mumbled." Before we go on alert, I have to give you something Hitomi," Van said taking her pendant off his neck.
"Oh no Van, the pendant is yours now. It was meant for good luck." Hitomi told him.
"I have you for good luck, and plus, you are stronger with your pendant. It was never mine. Please, I want you to have it," Van said and placed the pendant in her hand.
"If that's what you wish, then very well," Hitomi said and took the pendant.
"Yes, it will be my wedding present to you. It is my pledge to you that I will always come back to you, just like you did. I know you have missed this pendant, and this way, if you ever get transported back to the Phantom Moon, you will always find your way back." Van said and kissed her.
Hitomi dressed in a hurry, put the pendant around her neck, gave him a small kiss and headed for her room. There, she put on the jeans and T-shirt that she came to Gaea with. They were the most practical clothes she had. She took her sword and left in search of Gaddes.
"Good morning, my queen," he said when he saw her.
"Gaddes, I need to talk to you. How many guests have stayed overnight?" she asked.
"My queen, those clothes are not appropriate for a person of your rank." Gaddes informed her.
"These clothes are from the Phantom Moon, and I don't have time to discuss rank with you. Zaibach is attacking Fanelia. Now answer me!" she sternly ordered.
"Um... all of them my queen." Gaddes said realising they were running out of time.
"Have someone wake them up, and escort them to their ships. They must leave this instant, before the fighting breaks out here. Have Allen Schezar, and Merle meet me in the hall immediately. Where's Van?" Hitomi asked.
"He's down at the village helping people into shelters. He told me to protect you, my queen."
"I can take care of myself. You have a more important task. Take our guests out of danger, and warn the palace guards. I suppose they know what to do?"
"Yes, yes, and yes my queen. All will be done," Gaddes told her and left in a hurry.
Having taken care of the most urgent issues, Hitomi closed her eyes, trying to extend her perception and feel for the enemy. Nothing. It was like a wall was set in her path. Hitomi tried again. Still nothing. Could she have been wrong? Impossible. That feeling in her stomach was getting stronger, and the pendant was glowing brightly. Hitomi closed her eyes, and tried for a final time.
"Don't strain yourself. That's what I'm for," she heard a voice behind her.
"Princess Astrid," Hitomi said turning around. "You should be heading back home. It's too dangerous to be here."
"Don't be silly. I am acting under orders from the elder of my clan. You see,
Lady Hitomi, I am a telepath, and was sent here by the Ispano Clan to block Zaibach's telepaths and make sure your wedding with Lord Van would happen." Astrid explained.
"But why?" Hitomi asked puzzled.
"The Ispano Clan has prophecies of its own that must be fulfilled. I am not allowed to tell you more, for fear of altering fate, but know this. You and the King are most powerful when together. Never forget that," she said.
"Thank you Princess. Now tell me this. From my visions, I got the feeling that Zaibach only started this war, because they wanted Van and me. Is that correct?"
"Well, technically, they want something you have. But that is enough. I am not allowed to tell you more. I came here to ask that you take me upon your journey, for I will prove to be a most useful member," she said, and for the first time, the Princess displayed a genuine smile.
Hitomi didn't know what to do. When she first met the princess, she saw that there was something missing about her. Now, she looked a little more whole, but there was still something that didn't fit. Why would the Ispano Clan sacrifice their princess for the sake of her and Van, unless it was really important. Hitomi knew that the princess was telling the truth. Just as long as she kept her discord to herself, she might truly prove to be a valuable member. A telepath would really help them, if Zaibach was using them in turn.
"Very well, you can come." Hitomi finally decided.
"Thank you. I assure you I won't cause any more trouble." Astrid said.
"Hitomi, I heard you wanted to talk to me," she heard Allen say behind her.
Hitomi turned around and smiled.
"Yes, Allen, could you get The Crusade here?" she asked.
"What for?"
"Zaibach is destroying Fanelia once again, and we need an alternate mode of transportation in case we need to flee." Hitomi explained.
"I see what your plan is. Very well Hitomi, it shall be done," Allen said.
"Thank you." Hitomi whispered.
"I will have my crew bring the ship in the forest. In case we get separated, meet us there." Allen said and left.
After Allen left, Merle and Gaddes approached her.
"Everything is taken care of, milady." Gaddes informed her.
"Are all the guests gone?" Hitomi asked.
"Yes, most of them are boarding their ships now." he told her.
"Millerna and Dryden wish you the best of luck in your marriage," Merle jumped in.
"I thank them. Merle and I have an assignment for you," Hitomi informed the cat-woman.
"What do I have to do?" Merle asked excitedly.
"You have to take care of Princess Astrid over here, and make sure that she doesn't get hurt..." Hitomi was about to say something more, but a soldier came in.
"Zaibach forces are attacking! Get cover!" he yelled.
Just then, a strong vision hit Hitomi.
The fighting had broke out in the village. Van was in the middle, fighting the Zaibach soldiers. They were coming like ants. He had just killed one, and saved a defenceless woman. He turned around to help her up. Hitomi saw a huge wolfman making his way fast through the fighting crowd. His blade shined in the sun. He prepared to strike. Van, sensing the danger turned around, but it was too late. The blade came swishing down, and sliced him. Van fell down, red blood gushing from the wound. The soldier turned around and laughed.
"Vaaaaannnnnnn!" Hitomi screamed, and she fell on her knees.
The vision had been so strong, that it knocked the wind out of her. Merle, Gaddes and Astrid were beside her in a second, supporting her.
"What's wrong?" Gaddes asked.
"She's having one of her visions," Merle explained.
"Van," Hitomi whispered. "No, it can't be. I won't let it come true," Hitomi said and got up. A determined look crossed her featured.
"My queen, are you ok?" Gaddes asked.
"Just fine. Take care of the palace, I'll be back." Hitomi ordered and ran out of the room.
"But wait, it's too dangerous out there. King Van will have me killed if something happens to you," Gaddes yelled after her.
Hitomi ignored him. She had very little time to keep that vision from coming true.
She sprinted down to the market. There, the sight was horrible. Puddles of blood, and severed limbs covered the ground. The screams from the wounded were only surpassed by the deafening cry of the fighting. Hitomi shivered internally, while scanning the crowd for Van.
"Van! Van!" Hitomi yelled at the top of her lungs making her way through the mass of people.
She spotted him in a circle of dead Zaibach soldiers. He was helping the woman from her vision stand up. Hitomi looked around frantically for the soldier that was supposed to kill Van. She spotted him violently making his way through the crowd. His blade was reddened by the blood of those slain.
He looked truly grotesque. Oily grey hair, and an unshaved beard, with a wolfish smile. Hitomi felt repulsed and afraid, more than she had in the vision.
"Van, behind you!" Hitomi was screaming. "Behind you Van," she yelled.
It was too late. Her vision was already underway. The soldier prepared to strike, the blood reflecting in the sun. By the time Van turned around, the sword had already started its dooming descent.
"I won't let you win!" Hitomi yelled.
Her pendant glowed brightly, and Hitomi, possessed by some unnatural force, jumped between the two, blocking the deadly blow.
"What the...." she heard the soldier swear.
Before he could act, Hitomi knocked him out with a fierce blow of the back of her sword. The man crumbled to the floor like a rug.
"Van!" Hitomi whispered turning around.
"Hitomi, what are you doing here?" Van asked most surprised.
"Oh Van, he was going to kill you. I saw it in a vision," Hitomi explained hugging him fiercely. Tears of relief spilt down her cheeks.
"It's ok Hitomi. You saved me. I'm all right," Van assured her, hugging her tightly.
"Oh, I couldn't let him kill you. I had to do something," Hitomi sobbed breaking down.
"You crazy woman. You brave crazy woman," Van said in amazement.
"Come on, don't cry, we're all right," he said.
"Yeah, but by god I would have shattered his brains to pieces," Hitomi told him.
"Well, you did knock him out. Come on, let's get out of here." Van told her.
They headed for the palace. Most of the village was burning, and clouds of grey smoke surrounded the landscape. Everything was either burnt or burning. It all looked very grim.
"Van, you must activate Escaflowne. Zaibach is using Guymelefs. I saw them at the palace. And also, they want us. Me and you. I can't figure out why." she briefed him.
"So, they are resolving to cheap treachery. They want to plunge Gaea, and Fanelia into darkness again. Well we won't let them. Come on, if they want us, they're going to have to catch us." Van told her. He hoped that this conflict would have to resolve without the use of Escaflowne. However, Van saw that it was not the case. Even though Escaflowne stood for war, he saw no other alternative. "If it's war they want, then they're in for more than they could handle." He thought.
"I told Allen to bring the Crusade so we can have an escape ready. We must figure out why they want us Van. What do we have that they want?" Hitomi asked.
"Good thinking. Come on, I have to activate Escaflowne."
During the exchange of words, Van and Hitomi had reached the garden, where Escaflowne lay asleep. From Folken's tomb, Van brought out the energist he used eight years ago. Suddenly, Hitomi's pendant began to glow brightly. It virtually shot out beams of light when Van inserted the energist into Escaflowne. The dragon awakened, and Van stepped inside. He picked up Hitomi and placed her on Escaflowne's shoulder.
"Just like old times, huh?" Hitomi asked.
"Let's hope not," Van said looking worried.
In the main balcony, the fighting had broken out. Hitomi saw Merle and Princess Astrid hovering in a corner, soldiers menacingly closing in around them.
Hitomi jumped down in front of them, and knocked unconscious most of the soldiers.
"Are you all right?" she asked them.
"Yes, thank you Hitomi." Merle said.
"Come on, hurry, jump on," Van instructed. He had turned Escaflowne into a dragon, and motioned them to get on.
"Let's see if Allen's ship has arrived," he said.
They headed to the forest, where Gaddes and Allen were already waiting for them.
"Come this way," they said leading them to the ship.