~Remember I don't own Escaflowne or its characters~
~Alright, here's chapter 10 as promised~
~This is where something important happens and don't worry it's straight forward! You can't
miss it!~
~Enjoy!~




The Fate of Two Worlds
By Angel Wings

Chapter 10 ~ Devastion in its Worst Form


~ Battlefield ~
War cries were heard all around as Zaibach landed and the guymelefs charged their
opponents. Hitomi's eyes grew wide as she watched them fight. Swords clashed and soldiers
from both sides began to fall. A brush fire swept across the field and the armies stood amist
the smokes and flames not even noticing. Hitomi's heart was falling apart. A war was placed
upon her hands once again. Their blood was on her hands! She couldn't allow this to happen!
Hitomi pulled away from Van's protective arms and got right in the blonde man's face, "STOP
THIS! This is not justice! Don't allow others to spill blood when you cowards watch!"

Kaosu scowled and grabbed hold of the woman's neck pulling her off the ground.

Van leaped to his feet and tried to attack the man, but his brother stood between him, "Sorry,
but we can't allow you to interfer with our plans. Our father died and we will see justice
served."

"He deserved whatever he got for his sins" Van muttured beneath his breath. Van felt the wind
knocked out of him as a powerful punch met his stomache. The poor king toppled over onto
his knees.

"Never speak of such things or you shall pay with your life!" the sliver haired man growled.
Van painfully lifted his head as he held his stomache and glared at the demon. Kusari smiled,
"Besides someone has waited a long time for this moment."

Van's face went blank in confusion until he heard a voice that he had hoped never to
remember again. "Well, Van, I finally get to see you again."

The young king turned to see the dark face of his old enemy coming forth from the smoke.
Dilandau's dark eyes gleamed in glee as he approached him. He once again wore his old
armor and sinister blade at his side. Van could only stare at the ghost before him. How could
this be possible?! He loomed over Van as he cackled his unmistakable laugh, "Let us finish
what we started so long ago....."

Kusari tossed over to Van his royal sword which the King caught with ease. "Can't let you die
defenseless" Kusari grinned, "Atleast you'll die with a sword in your hand..."


Meanwhile, Prince Chid was desperately trying to get to his friends, but his body guard held
him back, "We can't your grace! We would only be in the way!" Chid refused to give up. His
foster-like sister and brother were in danger. He wouldn't let them die.


Hitomi was beginning to see stars when tears filled her eyes from the pain. Kaosu grinned and
placed the pendant at her cheek. A single crystal tear landed upon the stone causing it to shine
a bright red. The pendant's brightness blinded Hitomi and her holder for a second causing
Kaosu to lossen his grip on the seeress's neck. Hitomi felt the blood rush to her head and she
made her move. Using all her strength she beat her wings hard and fast forcing Kaosu to
release her completely. Hitomi flew backwards and landed several yards away. Her arm went
over her eyes trying to shield out the bright light. The light filled the field causing everyone
there to go blind for a few seconds before recovering their visions again. The light slowly
faded into a pulsing glow of power in the dark man's palm. Kaosu smiled in glory, "Now let
me show you the true power of the Atlantians."

Kaosu concentrated on the stone's power and slowly the light grew in intensity. Without even
thinking Hitomi leaped over to him and also took hold of the stone. Their hands clenched the
golden chain and fought as the precious stone swung violently between them. Neither were
willing to let go of the power.


Van's forehead was damp with sweat as he thrusted his sword at Dilandau. The man in red
and black blocked the blow and swung his at the king which Van blocked with ease. Neither
could get a blow upon their opponent and they were beginning to tire. Both wanted their
rival's death and went through the fight at full strength causing them to get winded far faster
than normal. All during their fight Van kept his eye on his beloved, trying desperately to get to
her. Unfortunately Dilandau knew better and made sure to keep himself into between the two
lovers. In the back of the king's mind he wondered where the other brother was. What was
his name? Kusari. Where was Kusari? He had disappeared from view and that worried Van.
The king snorted and returned his attention to Hitomi just as a blinding light swept over the
land. As the light faded Van stared as Hitomi escaped her captor's grasp.

Sadly Van was so worried about Hitomi and not on the fight he failed to dodge a blow and
Dilandau was able to scratch the king's arm. Van stumbled back and placed a hand on the
wound. Blood trinkled between his fingers showing his error.

Anger flared up in the raven haired man and lunged at the dragonslayer. Dilandau suddenly
realized he was in a bad position. The wrath of the king had risen and his blows came heavier.
It was becoming too difficult to keep the lovers apart. The insane man couldn't keep his
position between the king and the seeress for long and Van knew it. The young king swung
with all his might and struck Dilandau's blade causing the dragonslayer to stumble backwards
and land on the dusty ground.

Dilandau growled in anger at his humilation and swung his sword dangerously close to the
king. Van jumped back just as the sword came whirring through the air and create a slash in
his shirt. Dilandau took that time to rise and was about to charge the king when he heard on
his communicator, "Dilandau! Forget him! You know it is not time to kill him."

Dilandau growled into the small device, "Then why did you say I could kill him?"

The dragonslayer face flamed as he heard a small laugh on the other end, "To give you your
desire to fight the dragon and shut up about it. Now get at the front lines!"

Dilandau growled at the device one last time before shouting angrily at the King, "This isn't
over, Van!"

With that the man threw down a small red ball to the ground a few feet in front of him. Blazes
of fires erupted from the small item and created a wall of flames fifty stories high between the
king and the seeress. Van raised his arm up against the heat and stared through the flames. He
saw the man who had burned his kingdom years ago. The same insane smile laid on his face
and his cackle sizzled through the flames. Just like years ago......


Hitomi hands clung to her grandmother's pendant not willing to give up to the dark angel. It
was her duty to protect it. Deep down in the very depths of her heart she had felt an
overwhelming peace come over her when she finally discovered her true heritage. A secret
that had been locked within her blood since her birth. Now the door was open and the secret
was released and she felt the blood running through her veins churning with strength. If she
was royalty than she would protect her people's power. The power of the Atlantians was
clenched in her hands. It was a dangerous power and she refused to let it go to the other's
hands. She would die protecting it if she had to.

For a moment Hitomi had the advantage and was just grasping victory when her end of the
chain snapped and she stumbled backwards. Hitomi lost her balanced and landed on her
wings gently. Her emerald eyes flew to the man holding her grandmother's pendant. He
laughed in victory and held his fist grasping the pendant in the air. "Now" he howled, "I will
take what you most treasure!"

Hitomi felt her heart drop as he directed the pendant towards Van who stood in the mist of
flames.

"NO!" she cried, "Please spare him! Take my life for his!"

Kaosu just smiled and gloated, "I never intended to take just one life. Let alone his."

Hitomi's face went blanked, confused by his words, but she felt a scream tear through her
body as she watched him direct the pendant toward the sky.....towards the mystic moon.


Van eyes widen as he saw the black angel grasp the pendant and direct it towards the sky. A
sudden wave of fear erupted from Hitomi's heart and Van felt it at full force. Van knew what
she feared as he looked towards the sky at the intended target. She feared the death of her
planet......


Hitomi desperately rose to her feet, but far too late. The light energy from the pendant went
soaring into the sky at incrediable speed. Clouds mystically pulled back allowing room for the
red pillar of light to pass. She watched as the light grew closer to the globe she called home.

Hitomi turned to the angel of black wings and rushed to take away the pendant, but when she
was only a few feet away she hit an invisible wall. It was a wall of electricity and sent bolts of
energy through Hitomi's body before tossing her yards away. Hitomi rolled for several feet
before stopping in a fit of dust. She painfully rose to her elbows and saw a tunnel of red
swirling light surrounding the man. It was like a shield. It was to serve as a barrier to keep
interference away. Hitomi was powerless to do anything.

She watched as the light grew closer to it's target. She finally realized the message from her
vision.....

~ Vision ~
Hitomi stood in complete darkness. She was positioned upon the darkness as though there
was an invisible floor beneath her. Although she saw no one she felt the awareness of billions
of lives. Where were they? It was almost like she had went blind. She heard a million screams
suddenly above her head. She swirled around and turned to the sky of the darkness. A large
world hung within the air, but she could barely make it out for on its surface she could see
thousands of faces flashing like ghosts. Each face was screaming or crying in utter terror and
after a few seconds would be replace with another face. From old women to young children
faces floated on the world's skin. From each person on the world she felt their emotions. If it
was fear, pain, or concern. She felt it all and it was so strong that she got dizzy from it. Her
hands clasped over her ears trying to drown out the screams and cries. She begged it to stop
to no prevail. It grew so loud she thought her eardrums would bust. Falling to her knees she
gave a final cry, "STOP!" Suddenly all the faces and screaming vanished from the sky leaving
the world by itself. As soon as the silence came though a red fire exploded throughtout the
world causing it to become fiery pieces flying every which way. Suddenly the lives she had
felt from the people ceased all together. Her emerald eyes widen in horror at the destruction
and devastation. One of the fireballs came straight towards Hitomi, and the girl screamed in
fear.
~ End of Vision ~


It had never been Gaea. It had been the Mystic Moon all along. Even with this new
knowledge Hitomi could do nothing. She had the discovered the truth far too late. She was
too late to save her world.....to save her people......

As the light began to past her earth's moon Hitomi could only stare at the 'light show' about to
take place. It was so unreal to her. It couldn't be possible. This wasn't happening. She was
having a dream she thought to herself. She wanted to be believe anything other then this
nightmare. She was having a dream. She never met Van, Allen or anyone else. She had never
been able to have visions and she never came to Gaea. She was lying in bed right now,
sleeping the morning away and soon she would hear the sound of her alarm clock telling her to
get ready for school. But she knew deep in her soul that wasn't happening. It was all real and
she had met those people, had those visions, and came to that planet. And as she stood there
facing the disaster of her planet a thought appeared her mind which she couldn't help, but
think, "And I wouldn't change it for the world......"

~ Mystic Moon ~
As the light past by the moon and hit the atmosphere of the planet known as Earth, it erupted
with sparks and fire tearing toward the surface of the well populated globe of lusih green
forest and crystal blue water. People were walking on the hard black streets and grassy plains
as the sound of of the light came thundering through the air. Heads of all types of people of the
same secret race turned their eyes to the sky. Gasps from children, parents, men, and women
filled the air as they saw the fireball light come across the sky. Some thought it was a comet,
some thought it was a missil, and some thought it was a rocket, but only one person knew
what it was a she looked at the sky. Hitomi's mother stood in her garden when she spotted the
light and as she saw the beam coming at the Earth she cried for her husband. It was time for
the prophecy to take place.

~ Space ~
The light streaked across the stars and galaxies rushing at its target. Its soul purpose to
destroy the planet in its way. As it hit the burning atmosphere of the planet the light create
sparks making it form into a large firery ball with a long tail of red light. Billions of faces could
have been seen from atop that beam of light as it came crashing to the ground. Finally its
destination was reached and the beam met Earth. The light penetrated the Earth's crust and
continued to burrow into the planet passing through its several layers before hitting the core.
Once there it reacted with the heat and lava and caused a chemical reaction. The three items
merged and swelled beneath the surface of the earth before exploding from intense heat and
pressure. The explosion was as powerful as ten thousand atomic bombs, but the blast didn't
come until after the light. A red light of heat, lava, and power poured out of the earth's center
and flowed over the planet's surface. The wind began to roar and tear at buildings and trees.
People clothes were even been torn literally off their backs. The winds were stronger and
faster than any hurricane and the current of wind blew everywhere across the earth's surface.

Some people could only watch the scene before them while the wind tore at their bodies. The
light overtook them in a matter of moments. Others panic and ran for their lives, but the light
easily consumed them. While other people cowered in fear and waited to be destroyed by the
bright light.

There were only five people who did not run, stare, or fear the light erupting from the earth.
They use their little bit of time wisely and spent their last moments together.

~ Gaea ~
Hitomi could see everything happening on the Mystic Moon in her head. She saw the light hit
the earth's core blasting into a flood of light. She could see people running and screaming,
cowering in fear, and just staring at the event playing before them. The fear running through
their veins was felt completely by Hitomi. Every emotion and action Hitomi could see and feel.
She became so wrapped up in the scene that she fell into the sea of visions.

~ Vision ~
Hitomi was flying from a bird's eye view. High in the sky she soared, flying through the clouds
when suddenly she dove towards the earth's surface. She flew just a few feet above the
ground and passing by her people in a rush. She only got glimpses of people, but the moment
she passed them she felt their emotions and heard their thoughts.

A woman held her baby child, "No! Their bombing us!!!"

A man in a business suit running with his breifcase, "I can't escape it!"

Children in a playground. "Wow....."

"I'm scared......."

"I wanna go home!"

Hitomi passed by so many people their thoughts and emotions became a jumble and
unreadable. Lawns filled with people flew past her eyes in a blur. She had no idea what her
destination was and could only watch as she flew down black streets. Soon she found herself
at the trackfield standing by her two closes friends. Amano and Yukari were in a warm
embrace as they looked towards the wave of light coming at them. The roaring wind tugged at
them, but they didn't seem to notice. Yukari placed her head on Amano's shoulder sighing
contently. Hitomi felt no fear from them, no sense of panic. She felt only love and devotion
between her two best friends. Hitomi couldn't help, but cry as the two held each other.

Amano hugged his fiancé closed and spoke into her hair, "We will forever be together, even in
the afterlife. I pledge my soul to you, Yukari. Even if it only for this short moment."

The red head turned her eyes to his and whispered, "And I pledge my soul to you, Amano.
Even though we are to die here I can't help, but be at peace with you at this moment." The
two grew closer and kissed tenderly in each other's arms as the light consumed them.

Hitomi pulled away from the blinding scene and streaked across yards before coming to a halt
at her family's house. The scene made Hitomi want to cry. Her father was holding Hitomi's
little brother in his arms as Hitomi's mother stood just infront of them. They were watching the
sea of light come flooding toward them.

"Daddy, I'm scared...." the boy clinged to his father's shirt frightened. Hitomi watched as her
father hugged the small boy tightly to his chest. His fatherly hands rubbed his back trying to
comfort his son.

"Shhhhhh....." he whispered in his son's ear, "I'm right here......Everything will be alright......"
Even as the man spoke the words Hitomi could tell he knew that everything wasn't going to be
alright. She felt her heart drop for her family and wished she could do something about it.

Hitomi turned away from her father and brother and saw her mother staring at the moon. No,
she was staring past the moon where Gaea hung invisible to all eyes. Hitomi felt a feeling of
sadness and guilt fill her mother's heart and she wondered why?

"Hitomi....." her mother whispered into the roaring winds, "I'm sorry I never told you. Please
forgive me. Protect our homelands and the power of our people. Fulfill your destiny and
follow your heart for it will lead you down the 'true' path."

Hitomi watched as her father hugged his wife while still holding their son. They stayed in that
embrace, not even flinching as the light blinded them and swallowed them in an instance.

Hitomi's view pulled away and she stood in the stars watching her world above her. A billion
screams came to her ears from her world causing her to cover her ears. Then, just like in her
vsion, the cries ceased into a deadly silence. The red light swallowed her planet....
her world.....her home.....her friends and family.....her people..... in the blink of an eye before
exploding into firery balls of flames.
~ End of Vision ~


Hitomi watched in horror as her planet erupted into balls of flames. Comets of burning fire
flew through the heavens in all directions leaving a painful haze behind them. Hitomi felt those
billion lives ceased in that moment of destruction and a large void filled her heart. Hitomi fell to
her knees as she realized the terrible fact. Her world had died and she had done nothing to
protect it.

She turned her tear stricken face to the sky and gave one single cry, "NOOOOOOO!!!!"




~Okay, I'm sorry about this cliffhanger. I know this is a really bad cliffhanger, too, but I love
cliffhangers! Sorry for all you people who want to flame me!~
~I'm sorry for blowing up the Mystic Moon, but don't worry it gets real interesting!!!!!~
~Did anyone figure out I was gunna blow up the Mystic Moon?????? I hope not I was hoping
for a really good climax~
~Please R&R! I've been getting a few R&R, but not a ton so please tell me what you think~