Reunion
It had taken Zaillah a week to recover from the fever. It had taken Folken a week to travel to the volcano and obtain Escaflowne. Zaillah had been awake when she had sensed the dark Escaflowne awaken with Folken's blood. She smiled. She knew where he was headed. And she was also on her way there.
Zaillah and Rune had traveled quickly, despite the fact that she was still weak from the spell she had done to bring back Folken. They couldn't afford to waste any time. They had to hurry to Fanelia and speak to King Van. But what had been a surprise to the priestess, was when they had arrived it seemed as if the entire kingdom was celebrating some grand event. Rune had asked around and they had discovered that not only had the Memorials of the Great War been finished, but also the king, Van Fanel, had recently wed.
Zaillah was happy for the king. She hoped he had had some time with his new bride before now. For now she had a mission for him to accomplish. She took a brief rest on a bench along the main avenue of Fanelia as Rune went to get her something to eat from one of the shops. She smiled lightly and prayed that all would be well.
She suddenly felt a presence behind her and she turned with a smile on her face. Folken was behind her, cloaked and hidden so none could recognize him. He looked at her with narrowed eyes.
"What are you doing here? I can see you are still recovering from the fever. You should still be resting."
Zaillah smiled. "Hai. I know. But I could not wait any longer. Van-oh must be told of what is going on. I have heard that his bride is a psychic from the Mystic Moon. Perhaps she has also felt the foreboding that approaches our world if Van hasn't kept her too occupied in the marital life." Her smile faded and she went suddenly quiet. She lowered her head. "I am sorry that I will have to ruin his time with his bride because of this." She turned to Folken. "And I am sorry that I had to drag you and your brother into this mess…but…I needed you."
Folken smiled and wrapped his arms around the woman. Zaillah's eyes widened in surprise as she was folded in the warmth of his arms. "Do not be sorry, Zaillah. You gave me another chance at life, and for that I am grateful. I get to see my brother again and repent for my previous crimes."
She lifted her head, her amethyst eyes shimmering into his. "Only grateful?" she whispered softly.
Folken's eyes narrowed and darkened and he stared into her eyes until he was lost in them. He slowly lowered his head and took the soft lips beneath his. No one had ever sacrificed so much of his or her life to give him life. And no woman had ever affected him the way this one did. He had felt the love of a mother, father and brother and the adoration of those young girls that had died for him that he had loved dearly. But he had never felt this indescribable feeling that burned within his soul and ignited all the feeling that had died with him. He had a living body again and he could feel the life in it once more as he kissed and held the woman that was vibrantly alive in his arms. He kissed her slowly, delicately and she gave a tremulous sigh against his lips.
Rune's cough, brought them forth from the spell of the kiss that had bound their souls more so than Zaillah's spell had done. They stared into each other's eyes and she smiled. Rune lifted an eyebrow and placed the food before them. Zaillah blinked and then blushed at the situation she found herself in. How long had Rune been there? Rune grinned at the redness in her cheeks and Folken smiled.
Zaillah gave a cough and turned to the food, but continued speaking to Folken even though she was no longer facing him.
"What have you been doing since you have been back in Fanelia, Folken-san?"
Folken smiled at her formality and told both Rune and Zaillah of his surprise to find a statue of himself at the Memorial and how he was amazed at all the accomplishments that Van and performed with the fallen Fanelia. He could not wait to see his brother again. Zaillah saw the eagerness in his eyes and smiled at him.
She told him then her plan. She would enter the palace and tell the king and queen and his advisors about the entire situation. She would also tell him what she had done to ensure the safety of the world. Folken lifted an eyebrow. She shook her head.
"I will not tell them about you. Only that I used my power to bring forth the warrior that could fight by Van's side and was the only one that joined with Van could stop this evil. I will summon you then and you will come in Escaflowne. When they see the familiar Guymelef and I explain the dark Escaflowne, you can emerge. Then you can see your brother again, Folken."
Folken smiled and nodded. That was what they would do. He stood up to leave and his eyes met Zaillah's for a moment before he turned to head to Escaflowne and await the summon she would send.
He would see his brother again soon.
* * *
Van shook his head as the guards led the priestess into the throne room. He had been enjoying a wonderful lunch with Hitomi and the others when they had received the announcement that the Guardian of Gaia had arrived to speak with him. He knew he could not send her away. Little was known about the Guardian, only that she was a powerful sorceress and priestess, using her powers and her spirit to protect Gaia from any evil outside force. Never did the Guardian ever leave her temple, in fact, no one was sure of the location of the temple. No one recalls ever having seen her; most had even started believing she was only an ancient legend that had somehow managed to survive.
Yet, here she was. This would be the first time in ages that the Guardian would have appeared to the people. And she comes to speak with him. Van Fanel.
Hitomi was seated at his side, their friends and family seated and standing around them, also waiting for the priestess. When she entered with her companion, all they could do was stare. She was the essence of spiritual power. From her body glowed an indomitable radiance and her firm amethyst eyes blazed as she gazed about the room. She held a staff made of gleaming ivory, clear quartz wrapping around it like a mist and an orb of crystal glowed on it. Her long hair hung to her knees, waves of ebony stark against the sheer whiteness of her robes.
Zaillah gazed at everyone present, smiling slightly. These were Van Fanel's friends and family. She looked briefly over everyone, her gaze lingering on Allen and Dryden. So strong. Such strong friends he had. She then saw Hitomi and met her eyes and knew her to be the girl from the Mystic Moon. She would be a great help to Van-oh in the upcoming battle. She will be his strength. Zaillah then turned her gaze to Van and saw the same strength that she saw within Folken's spirit. Her heart eased. It was possible. They could win… With these two Fanel warriors. She gave a deep bow.
Van bowed briefly in return. "You claim to be the Guardian of Gaia, lady."
Zaillah straightened. "I am."
"Then why, after so many centuries, do you finally emerge from your temple?"
Zaillah gave a small smile. "There are times that not even I can prevent an evil from coming to Gaia. At these times I must emerge from the temple and seek aid. If not our world will fall to ruin."
Everyone tensed. Van's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
Zaillah lifted her staff into the air and an enormous vision appeared above her. "Behold, Lord of Fanelia. This is our world." And image of a spatial view of Gaia appeared. "The Guardian's purpose is to protect our world from the darkness beyond its blue skies. Beyond them, there is an endless space, from which all forms of evil may come. For eons, our purpose has been to prevent those evils from entering our world and destroying it. But now, there is a darkness…" she gave a wave of her staff and vision transformed into a dark nothingness that crackled with evil energy. "This darkness can not be stopped by me alone. I need aid. Were I to fight it alone our world would become food for its darkness. So I have come to you, Lord Van Fanel, King of Fanelia, Pilot of the Mighty Escaflowne for aid. Without your help, our world is lost."
Van took in a sharp breath and stood up. He shook his head at the woman before him. "What makes you believe that I can destroy it, if you, the Guardian of our world, can not?"
Zaillah shook her head. "You can not destroy it alone…or even with my aid at your side."
Hitomi shot up. "If Van can't defeat then why did you come here, ne? To warn us that it's hopeless to try and fight?"
Zaillah smiled at Hitomi. "On the contrary, Hitomi-sama. Van-oh can destroy it…but not alone. One Escaflowne is not enough to battle this evil… We need two."
"NANI?!"
Van shook his head in disbelief. "Two Escaflownes? What are you talking about? There is only one Escaflowne in existence and I am her Pilot!"
Zaillah nodded. "To your knowledge, yes. There is only one Escaflowne. But in reality, there are two. The one known to all, and the one known to none. The dark side of Escaflowne." She lifted her staff and pointed it to the window. A flash of light beamed from it and suddenly there was a rumbling coming from the distance. Zaillah dropped to her knees in exhaustion, her body still not recovered.
"Ne-sama!"
But no one noticed the priestess's distress at first. From the distance, arriving with tremendous speed was a Guymelef… identical to Escaflowne. Except that the colors were inverted. It arrived silently, landing perfectly before the window from which Zaillah had summoned it. Van flew to Zaillah.
"What is this?! How can this be?! Only a member of the Fanel family can pilot Escaflowne or any copy thereof! How can there be two Escaflownes?"
Zaillah slowly stood, using her staff and Rune for support. "The Guardians of Gaia first came into being at the time in which Escaflowne was created. The Guardians and Escaflowne were created to protect our world. The Escaflownes were born at the same moment, twins of a powerful magic. But together, their power was so great, that it was unnecessary for both to be known. So one was brought to the people of Gaia, to the house of Fanel, but the other was locked away into the darkest recesses of the earth, only known to one chosen member of the Fanel line and the Guardian." She gave Van a light smile. "The chosen Fanel died centuries ago without passing on his secret… So only, the Guardians have known about this Escaflowne's existence. And here she stands. The dark side of your Escaflowne."
Hitomi shook her head in disbelief. "But…Who is piloting her? Only members of the Fanel line can pilot an Escaflowne…and there is only Van…for the moment."
Zaillah straightened and turned to the Escaflowne. "Come out, and show yourself. You, who are also Fanel; you, who are the only one who is worthy of piloting the Dark Escaflowne." She turned back to Van and gave him a smile. "Consider this, my wedding gift to you, Van Fanel. It's the least I can do for troubling you happy time with dark premonitions of destruction."
Van's eyes were wide as he turned away from the woman and faced the Dark Escaflowne and the man that was slowly emerging from it. Silvery blue hair, glistening in the light of the sun, a tear stained face glowing with happy eyes, completely whole and exactly as he was before…
"FOLKEN?!"
Everyone couldn't believe their eyes. Van took a step toward his brother, his heart racing madly. Folken…? Folken? But…but…how could this be?! "Ma-sa-ka," Van whispered more to himself than anyone else.
Folken smiled at him. "I'm not an illusion, little brother. I'm real, I'm not a ghost. I live. After all this time…I live again."
Van shook his head in disbelief for a moment before rushing toward his brother. "Folken!" When Van reached him and realized that his brother was mortal and alive, he couldn't stop his tears. The brothers embraced, unheeding of everyone else in the room. For that moment, memories of happier days of long ago flashed through both of their minds. Happier days with their parents and when they lived together as a family. Now those days could actually begin again. Folken was back…and he was whole. There was no shadows in his eyes, no fear, no doubt, no regret. They were a family again.
Folken smiled, thanking the heavens silently for giving him a second chance. He then pulled away, looking at his brother with a grin as he slapped Van's back.
"Look at you, Van! You're my height now, boy! It has been ten years. You've grown so much, while I haven't aged a day since I died. It seems like forever and at the same time like not even a moment has passed." Folken put his hand to Van's face.
Van slapped Folken on the shoulder with a laugh, his eyes sparkling with happiness and amazement. "Ni-sama…you really are here! I don't believe it. It feels like a dream! I just finished putting up a memorial to you, and here you are! What kind of strange twist of fate is this?!"
Folken smiled. "We're a family again little brother, even if it took a threat to Gaia to make us one once more, at least we are a family. I think fate was being a bit kind for a change."
Van suddenly turned serious, remembering the reason his brother had been resurrected. His dark eyes gazed into his brother's and gave him a nod. "So then this Guardian is the one who brought you back, ni-sama? She brought you back to help us fight this thing." Folken nodded. Van turned back to Zaillah. "You, Guardian of Gaia, you went through the trouble of returning my brother to me, only to fight this evil? What will happen to him once it is defeated? Is he on borrowed time only?"
Zaillah smiled and shook her head. "Iie, Van-sama. Folken will live till death decides to take him again. My spell is not temporary. It is permanent. He lives, and will live to see his nephew and nieces and perhaps even his own children and grandchildren. And I swear upon the Mystic Moon, that no one shall die in this battle. The evil will be defeated without a loss of life." Zaillah suddenly began to have a coughing fit and sunk down to her knees, her knuckles white as she clutched onto the staff.
"Ne-sama!" Rune called out and bent down to his sister.
Everyone else came rushing to her side, when they saw her distress. She lifted her hand and waved them off. "It…is nothing… I am only still recovering from…" Her eyes rolled back and she collapsed onto the marble floors with a soft thud and the rustling of silk. The staff clanged as it hit the ground beside her.
Folken pushed through everyone and cursed. He quickly went to her side. Everyone was shocked at her collapse.
"Is she all right?" Hitomi asked when Folken turned her over to feel her forehead. Hitomi's eyes widened when she saw the woman's labored breathing. "What on earth—?"
Van looked at his brother curiously as Folken lifted her in his arms. The cat boy called Rune picked up the staff, his brow furrowed in worry. "What is wrong with the Guardian, Folken? You seem to know more about what is going on than the rest of us. She seems so ill…"
Folken shook his head and smiled at his brother. "It's exhaustion. She was even worse when she resurrected me. It seems that her magic comes from the depths of her soul, and when she uses a spell that is much to powerful for her, or when she is exhausted and still uses a strong spell, she will have bouts of fever. She seems more fragile than she actually is, but then again, she carries a heavy weight, ne?"
Everyone only gazed at him with wide eyes. Hitomi shook her head in shock. "She knew that bringing you back would cost her so much…yet she still did. For the world…and for Van…" Hitomi looked up at Folken. "And for you as well, Folken-san." Hitomi looked at the unconscious priestess. "She takes her job seriously, ne?"
Allen shook his head in disbelief. "This is too much at once. Folken has returned from death to fight an evil…and this Guardian risked her life to do so. Just the fact that this great evil is upon us, is almost too much to believe."
Dryden snorted. "As if Zaibach hadn't been enough."
"Well, we need to get her to a bed first. She needs to rest immediately!" Millerna said. "Whether it's fatigue or a weakening of her soul, this woman still needs to rest. How she's planning to save the world in this condition, I have no idea." She turned to Hitomi. "Hitomi, Celena. Come with me. Folken, follow us. We'll show you were to put her so she can recoup."
Folken nodded and followed the three women. Allen, Dryden and Van stared after them. Van turned to his friends. "I still can't believe this is all happening."
Allen nodded. "It is a lot to take in so abruptly."
Rune turned to them with a huff. His eyes were blazing with anger. "You still doubt?!" The three men turned to him in surprised. Rune took a step toward them. "Can't you see she's risking everything to help save this world?! She been protecting this world much longer than all of you, and from things infinitely more powerful than ZAIBACH!! And you all dare to doubt her?! Zaillah ne-sama has done so much…" he turned to Van in fury, "she brought your brother back! How can any of you not believe her?!"
"Whoa! Cat-boy! Don't get so heated up on Van-sama!" Merle said, jumping before him. She shook her head at him. "I know you're probably worried about your one-sama, but you don't need to take it out on them!"
He growled at her. "You don't understand! You didn't see her when she brought him back to life!!" Tears slid down his cheeks. "I thought she was going to die!!"
Van placed a hand on Rune's shoulder. The boy looked up and saw the same kind dark eyes that the other man had. "Gomen, ne? We don't mean to doubt her. In fact, I don't at all. She's given me something I never thought I would be able to have again. My family. I will willing fight for Gaia. Even though I swore never to wear Escaflowne in my life again, I will to protect those I love and the world I love." He smiled at Rune. "I have a wife now, and from her little innuendoes it seems that I may already be a father. I will protect her, my child and my brother and my friends. And I know you will protect your sister. Whatever that darkness is that lurks outside our world, it will not reach us. This I swear to you. Your ne-sama's sacrifice will not be in vain."
Rune sniffed a bit and nodded.
Merle giggled at him. "What a cry baby!"
He growled at her. "Shut up! You'd be the same way if your big sister or brother was in the same situation! Besides I'm older than you!"
She shrugged. "I don't have any. But I guess I can understand. I'd never want that to happen with Van-sama! And you don't seem much older with all that whimpering."
Van shook his head and turned his crooked smile to Dryden and Allen. Allen only shrugged, but Dryden was grinning.
"Those two are already getting along well, ne?"
"HEY!"