~Remember I don't own Escaflowne or its characters!~
~Here's a hint about this chapter! The dragon's gunna be the star in this chapter!~
~Hope you enjoy this chapter!~
The Fate of Two Worlds
By Angel Wings
Chapter 16 ~ The White Dragon Soars Once More
~Crusade~
Van rushed into the control room seeing Allen and Gaddis barking orders.
"Allen, what's going on?" the raven king cried over the shouts of commands.
The blonde knight turned to the boy and shouted across the room, "A group of
gargoyles are flying towards us from the south."
Van's eyes grew wide. He knew about gargoyles.......and the knowledge sent fear running
through his soul. Those devilish creatures were well feared by all who knew them. Someone
had to be insane not to fear those dark beasts. Van shook his head not willing to let fear
overtake him.
"I'll take Escaflowne out there" the young king shouted and he turned towards the docking bay
already rushing towards the metal giant.
"Wait!" Allen cried chasing after the raven man. Van came to a halt at the doorway as the
knight hurried to his side, "If you go on Escaflowne out there, you'll have to be in flight mode."
"Your point, Allen?" the man asked urgently. The creatures were growing closer and time for
action was at hand.
The knight stared into the man's eyes, "If your in flight mode you won't have any protection
from those demons......they'll tear you apart......"
The man's ruby red eyes turned towards the dark monsters flying towards them. He knew the
knight was right. He would be at a major disadvantage. Maybe he should use another
guymelef......No, Escaflowne and him were a team. They had fought through all battles and
won. He trusted his comrade.......the dragon would not let him down......
The man's fire eyes turned back to the knight's sky blues, "I know, Allen, but I have to go out
there......"
"Take another guymelef" the knight insisted not willing to let his friend set out on such a suicidal
battle.
The young king shook his head, "No, Escaflowne and I are bonded. I can fight better with
him......."
The two men stared at each other knowing this was a major decision that might seal the king's
fate. Allen just couldn't let him go out there by himself.
"Alright....." the knight replied, "I'll come with you.....I've got a guymelef that has a flight mode
so I'll be able to watch your back."
"Thank you, my friend" the king said as he placed a hand on the knight's shoulder, "Let us fight
by each other's side like old times...."
The two nodded and raced out of the room leaving Gaddis in charge.....
Dryden was already getting a guymelef started up as the two men rushed in. The guymelef's
chest was open so the man was able to shout to his friends, "Let's go, men! They're growing
closer with each moment!"
Van raced over the railing path leading to the metal giant, Escaflowne. Without a moment of
hesitation the boy leaped over the railing and landed on the guymelef's shoulder. Allen raced
over to a nearby guymelef of night blue coloration and proceeded to jump into the guymelef's
already opened chest. Escaflowne's chest opened with ease as Van spoke to it through his
mind, "Come on, old friend. Let us fight as one once again....." With little effort the raven
headed man jumped into the seat concealed in the chest.
Allen shouted to a crew member standing guard within the docking bay telling him to open the
doors. With a nod the man ran over to a panel and pressed a few buttons causing the doors of
the docking bay to slide open revealing a blue sky filled with black demons. Allen and
Dryden's guymelefs closed shut and made their way over to the edge of the opening. Van, on
seeing this, switched Escaflowne into to flight mode and took hold of the controls. As soon as
the knight and king jumped into the air, the young angel king took the white dragon into flight.
As the rush of air took him towards his target an image of his fiancé took over his mind. He
closed his fire eyes and whispered, "I promise you, Hitomi, I will return to you....."
Merle and Hitomi thrust opened the door leading to the hanger and rushed in. On seeing the
empty spot where the legendary guymelef had once stood the seeress automatically knew her
love had gone into battle. Her emerald eyes turned to the sky. The three guymelefs were flying
towards the black dots and for a moment she thought Zaibach was attacking, but then she felt
what it was......It wasn't Zaibach approaching......it was......something else.....
"What's going on?!" an angry cry came. Hitomi turned to see the young cat~girl holding the
collar of a crew member.
"Answer Me!" Merle shouted as her fur ruffled and her ears laid back, "Why did Lord
Van~sama leave?!"
The man's eyes were wide with fear and he shook as he answered the mad cat, "Gargoyles are
headed towards the Crusade! King Van, King Dryden, and Sir Allen have all gone to deal with
the demons!"
The young cat dropped the man in shock as fear gripped her heart, "Did you say Gargoyles?!"
Hitomi stood back a little confused. She had heard about gargoyles on her planet in fiction
stories and had even read a little about them in the 'Book of Angels', but she didn't really know
anything about the beings.
The seeress couldn't help, but ask, "Merle, what are gargoyles?"
The frightened cat~girl turned to her dear friend as tears began to slip down her eyes, "They are
evil demon beasts who attack for the pure pleasure of slaughtering people. They are extremely
strong and very dangerous. Lord Van~sama doesn't stand a chance if he stays in Escaflowne's
flight mode. He won't have any protection from those devils!"
To Hitomi the room seemed to spin and she had to grab the wall to steady herself. Van was
going to die......
Celena along with Queen Millerina stood in the control room of the Crusade talking with
Gaddis.
"Doesn't this ship have any defenses?" the queen asked angrily.
The man nodded, "Yes, it does, but the weapons might endanger the men out there. We might
hit them by mistake."
Celena stepped forward to Gaddis, "Aren't their more guymelef's that can fly?"
"Yes...." the man replied, "I already have soldiers loading them up, but even with them we are
at a disadvantage. Those beasts are small targets to the guymelefs and move swiftly in the air.
They can rip through the metal of our machines and probably take several of the guymelefs out.
We'll lose men in this battle for sure....."
The lavender eyes of the maiden turned to the controls wondering if there was anything they
could possible do to help the men. The blonde women bit their lips fearing for their loves ones.
They could do nothing except hope that the men came back safely. They were in a bad
situation......
The lead beasts saw the ship release several giant metal creatures and it knew the fight would
be a lot harder with those machines. With a roar the beast flew straight for the creatures for he
would do anything for a battle.....even go against these giants.....
Van watched warily as the creatures increased their speed and continued towards them. They
were scattered across the sky, but he could tell their was a formation through the way the flew.
He had to scatter them..... The young king smile as he gripped the handles of the controls. He
knew what to do....
Closing his eyes the man let out his thoughts to the dragon that flew beneath him and said,
"Faster, my friend.......faster....."
Within a moment of the thought the metal dragon transform to its faster flight mode. Blue fire
blasted from behind the flyers and the dragon along with its pilot flew at an incredible speed
towards the center of the group of gargoyles.
The lead creature was too surprised by the quickness of the white monster to escape its path
and was smash into by the great beast. The leader howled in pain as he plummet through the
clouds. His red glowing eyes caught sight of his people losing formation and scattering across
the blue atmosphere. Soon the other metal giants came and began to pick of his fellows.....one
by one.....
Angrily the leader growled and beat his leathery wing righting himself in the air. His tail twisted in
rage and he soared towards the beings. His speed began to increase as he caught sight of the
white beast that had first attacked him. He would kill him first.....
Escaflowne tail struck down another black beast causing the creature to fall towards the ground.
Van struggled desperately with the controls as more dark demons landed on the back of the
metal dragon. There were too many for him to handle. He couldn't release the controls or
Escaflowne would start falling towards the earth. The young king growled in frustration as
another demon leaped towards the occupied man's face. The white dragon's head reared up
catching the beast off guard and sent the creature flying over the raven haired man's head. The
tails and claws of the white beast were knocking the demons off, but more continued to drop
down onto the dragon's back. Van knew it was growing far worse than he had expected. Allen
and Dryden were able to keep the attention of several of the gargoyles, but there were so many
that several would slip by within seconds. The two just couldn't hold them back. Even the extra
soldiers weren't enough to handle the situation. The beasts' claws were hard as diamonds and
could easily cut through the guymelef's armor. Some of the soldiers were even ripped from their
control seats. The demons would make short work of the soldier while the metal giant would
fall down to the surface of Gaea.
"VAN!" Allen cried over the PA, "They're too many for us to take! We need to fall back!"
The eyes of the young king turned towards the Crusade. Several of the demons had made their
way over to the sail ship. Most of them circled around the top of the ship dangerously close to
the sails, but for some reason they made no attempt to rip the material. It made no sense to the
angel king. They had come to kill them, but they refused to even touch their weak point.
Ruby eyes looked towards the docking bay entrance to see a pair of gargoyles fly in and then
fly right back out. What were they doing?.....
Sounds behind him caused the king's raven head snapped around in time to see five demons
land on the back of Escaflowne. His hands pulled at the control bringing the dragons tail up and
strike down three of the beasts. One leaped for the man's head, but a swift attack by one of the
claws took down the creature. The fifth beast went for the king's leg, but the other back leg hit
the gargoyle hard in the chest breaking a few ribs. Van brought his forearm to his brow wiping
away his sweat. The dragon's tail wrapped around a demon squeezing it tightly. Van got
distracted as a demon flew in dangerously close to his head. It would have hit him, but quick
reflects allowed the man to dodge it and missed him by merely a hair. He would never had seen
the next creature if it hadn't roared a challenge. The angel king turned around to see a black
shadow come charging towards his face.....
Hitomi stood not far from the open entrance of the docking bay watching the battle from afar.
Her heart jumped into her throat each time a gargoyle grew close to her beloved. Several times
gargoyles flew inside the docking bay. They'd fly low and fast roaring as they flew, but they
couldn't get a chance to attack any of them for several of the crew members had armed
themselves and were guarding the opening. The demons just couldn't find an opening. Red
glowing eyes glared angrily at the gleaming blades of the men's swords.
The soldiers couldn't close the bay for they needed to leave the hanger open so guymelefs could
return if they got too badly damage. If they closed it and a guymelef was so badly injured that it
needed to land immediately they wouldn't be able to open the doors fast enough. To lose a man
for such a stupid thing was just not worth the risk.
The seeress stood behind several crew members watching the fight in fear. Merle stood next to
the girl holding her arm tightly. Perhaps they were safer in the control room, but Hitomi refused
to move even though Merle insisted. Hitomi didn't want to leave when her fiancé might die. She
would stay there until Van fell from the sky....
Suddenly Hitomi's breathe locked in her throat. Van was busy controlling Escaflowne when a
gargoyle came from beneath the dragon from the cover of the clouds. Time began to slow down
as the moment played. The beast flew straight past the dragon's head and stopped several feet
away from the man. A roar that made men's blood freeze rang through the air and the demon
dove for the man's face. Van's hair flipped as his head snapped around, but far too late for the
creature was only centimeters away......
Hitomi closed her eyes and gave an urgent shout, "VAN!!!!!!"
The king saw everything go in slow motion. He heard the pounding of his heart in his ears as he
stared into the face of a demon. Its glowing red eyes held a reflection of the raven man as the
creature growled in pleasure. Van couldn't move or think......all he could say was, "Escaflowne,
protect me....."
Suddenly the metal beast who had always been merely a machine began to change. It's hollow
eyes began to glow and soon green eyes looked out through the metal armor. It's red wings of
plain cloth began to grow leathery. Its armor of cold steel began to become armor over white
scales of glittering jewels. The controls held in the fist of the angel king became reins of red and
gold cloth. The glowing red energist that had once shined in his claw now shone brightly on a
piece of armor protecting the dragon's chest. In the matter of moments, the guymelef known as
Escaflowne had become a real dragon decorated by armor that resembled its former self.
The beast growled in anticipation of the flesh he would soon devour. Oh, the demon felt so
blessed to have this kill. His claws ripped from his fingers as he reached for the man, but
suddenly he felt sharp daggers clamp over his tail. The beast was halted only centimeters away
from the man's face and tossed backwards through the air. Angrily the demon turned towards
his attacker and felt a fear grip his dark soul. His eyes of red glowing orbs were glaring into the
eyes of a dragon, a creature known for eating his kind. This demon knew better than to
challenge such a predator. With a beat of the wing he turned away from the beast and headed
towards another hopeful kill.....
Perhaps the white dragon might have follow, but more demons began to rack his back trying to
slaughter his keeper and he would not let his friend die.
Van's mouth hung open as he stared down at his guymelef. His own personal machine had
transform right beneath him into a white dragon of armor. The man's mind could barely accept
the knowledge of this change, even though it was true. The legendary guymelef, Escaflowne,
had actually become the white dragon.....
Dryden gasped as he watched the dragon transform in the corner of his eye. Could it be?
Allen gasped as the white metal dragon became flesh and bone, "What the?!?!"
The king watched in awe as the dragon fought with new energy and better swiftness. Rows of
daggers crushed the gargoyles within the dragon's mouth and the tail became like a stringer
striking anything that challenged it. Claws of great sharpness slashed violently at the demons.
Soon the bodies of the dark creatures began to fall away from the sky.
When there was a free moment the great dragon of white scales turned his head to one side,
allowing him to see his rider with a large green eye. Van stared into the emerald globe with
shock still not unable to believe what he saw. For a second, the king thought he saw a smile
appear on the dragon's face,..... but it soon melted away almost as though it had never been
there and the dragon dove into the clouds.
From the air fluttering just high enough to view the chase his people gave the white dragon was
the lead gargoyle. His tongue ran over his teeth of daggers. He had lost this prey, but he would
find another. Let his people be foolish enough to attack the creature, perhaps they would have a
better chance as a pack then as individuals. The leader turned his head to metal sail ship and he
felt a twinge of power emitting from it. His powers were limited so he couldn't truly know how
great the power was, but his small mind knew who it was......it was the one he could not kill.....
the seeress.....
With a loud roar he dove towards the steel ship. If he could not kill her then he would at least
fight her for the lust of battle. To find a worthy opponent made the fight all the more thrilling and
if this being had powers than this creature would surely give a good fight. He would make sure
to not completely kill her, but leave her so badly damage that she would almost be dead.....
Van looked back to see dozens of gargoyles tailing them. The king growled in frustration at the
presence of the creatures and turned his head in time to see the cloud that they flew through.
Escaflowne dove and twisted through the clouds trying desperately to evade the black demons,
but they stayed with the dragon with turn for turn. Van knew that one of them had to give up in
the end, but he wasn't willing to wait.
As the dragon and king plunged through another mist of clouds they were able to see view of
the ground. Soon the canyon shaped like a crescent moon caught the raven headed man's eyes.
The Crusade had finally made it to the Canyon of Gryphons. A smile grew on the young royal's
face as a plan began to form.
The man kicked the dragon's sides catching the beast's attention. A green eye looked over at
the royal wondering what he wanted. The man pulled at the reins in the same matter he had
once held the controls showing he wanted the creature to dive. The legendary beast didn't
understand, but did as he was commanded. He trusted his rider.....
As they dove towards the earth the demon dove with them not willing to let go of the chase.
The ground rushed up to meet the dragon and king, but as they began to grow dangerously
close the king pulled the reins showing the dragon to fly through the crevice of the canyon. With
a beat of its wings the dragon turned towards the chasm and flew through the narrow pass. The
black demons flew like a flock and turned along with the dragon not even losing speed. The
dragon, catching sight of this, flew faster trying desperately to lose the gargoyles.
Green eyes caught sight of several nests lying along side the cliffs and the dragon smiled. Soon
gryphons began to launch from their nest heading straight for the invaders. Eagle shrieks filled
the air and the flying cats attacked. Escaflowne easily dodged past the loins and soared back
towards the sky while the demons were struck down by talons and beaks. The gargoyles were
forced to stop the chase and turn their attention towards the flying lions. The mighty gryphons
flew after the white dragon for several hundred feet, but once seeing that the giant lizard was
leaving soon banked back towards the gargoyles to finish them off.
Van turned a little on Escaflowne's back and stared down at the battle between lion and demon.
A smile broke across his face as he saw the gryphons gaining the upper hand. Gryphons were
far faster and larger than the gargoyles. It caused the demons to become good targets for the
eagle-lions allowing them to bring the dead to their brood (offspring). The young king turned
around and gave the white dragon a little kick causing the great beast to speed onward into the
blue heavens.
Hitomi heart was bursting with happiness as she saw the young king and the new dragon fly
through the clouds with not a single black beast pursuing them. The seeress felt tears swell in her
eyes, but they were soon blinked away when a dark shadow began to grow closer. This beast
seemed larger than the others as he flew towards them. The seeress felt Merle tense at the sight
of the beast as she held the girl's arm. The creature roared and swooped down into the hanger,
landing on his hind legs.
As he stood on his feet people were able to see his true height......he was taller than the crew
members by several feet. His wings spread to their full length and he reared his head roaring
loudly. The crew members shook with fear for he was the first gargoyle to land inside the
docking bay and it was obvious he wanted to do more than just scare them......The demon of
black licked his fangs with a deep red tongue. His devil tail 'swished' across the metal floor like
a scorpion's stinger. With a growl he showed his claws and began to slowly head towards
Hitomi and the cat~girl who stood behind three crew members.
One of man gave a warrior cry and rushed the creature. The crew member swung his sword at
the beast's chest, but the gargoyle simply dodged it and slashes the man across the chest. While
howling in pain the man fell and his weapon clattered to the metal floor. The lead gargoyle gave
a small growl and continued towards the group letting his fellow beasts to finish the dying man.
Hitomi covered her mouth as she watched the creatures began to tear apart the man's body.
Merle squeezed her eyes shut against the slaughter and held Hitomi's arm more tightly.
The dark leader stepped closer to the group as they watched in disgust at the display. A roar
fell from the devil's dark lips in a challenge. Another crew member charged the beast in hope
of protecting the seeress and young cat~girl. The demon growled angrily and swung a claw at
the man, but the crew member ducked.
As the two fought the third crewmen turned to the cat and girl, "GO! BEFORE IT COMES
OVER HERE!"
Hitomi bit her lip, "But what about you?!" She didn't want to live the man to die for their
sakes....
"I'm not important! NOW GO!!!!" he shouted before plunging towards the demon. The
gargoyle finally finished the other man and turned to the next challenger. Hitomi didn't hesitate
any longer. She swung Merle around and bolted for the door across the room.
The lead beast slashed at the man angrily. They were keeping him away from his prey and he
would not allow them to escape. His glowing eyes caught sight of them running towards the exit
and he roared in rage. With a slash of his claws the man fell to the hard ground dead. The
creature leaped into the air just as his fellows jumped onto the carcass. While they began to
devour their meal the leader glided across the room towards his fleeing prey.
They had been only a few yards away from the door when the beast casted a shadow over
them causing them to halt. Hitomi gasped at the sight of the creature as he landed only a few
feet from them, blocking their path. The poor cat~girl whimpered silently in fear as she clutched
Hitomi's arm. The beast smiled at their fear. His smile just made him more frightening for you
could see the rows of sharp daggers that occupied his mouth. As the demon took a step
towards them Hitomi and Merle slowly backed away. Unfortunately the two of them were
cornered. Behind them lied several more gargoyles and no exit. A growl came from the depths
of the demon's throat as he took another step in their direction. Hitomi's mind reeled as she
desperately tried to think of a plan to escape this monster, but her mind was a blank.....
Without warning a man with a drawn sword tossed himself onto the beast from behind. The
gargoyle reared in angry and a roar pierced the air. The man hung on for dear life on the
creature's back as the creature bucked and lost the hold on his blade. The gleaming sword slid
across the metal floor and stopped not far from Hitomi's feet. The girl saw her reflecting in the
blade as it stared up at her from the floor. Her emeralds eyes turned up to see the monster in
rage trying to pulled the man from his back. The demon clawed at the man while he twirled
around like a dog chases his tail. Without giving it a second thought the seeress picked up the
sword and charged the monster.
"No, Hitomi!" Merle cried urgently, but the girl didn't stop.
On hearing the cry, the gargoyle tossed the man aside and swung around to face the attacker,
but he met only a sharp blade. The beast tried to dodge it, but the sword was too quick and it
sliced off his ear. Howling in pain the demon reared up clutching the place where his ear once
stood. Blood trickled through its claws as he screeched in pain. Hitomi didn't wait for it to
recover and swung the blade again. Unfortunately she had never really used a sword so aim was
inaccurate. She did, however, cause a bloody slice across the creature's chest. Rage seared
through the demon and he swung his claw at the girl causing her and the blade to sail across the
room and crash against one of the large guymelefs that were docked.
Hitomi's forest green eyes looked up in fear as the creature stormed over to her. Its glowing
orbs of fire glared down at her and his lips were set in a snarl showing off his fangs. No longer
did he care if he killed the seeress or not. His anger had taken over his actions as he lifted a
sharp claw over his head. The shadow of his claw played over the frightened girl's face as she
saw death standing before her.
A sharp cry came from the gargoyle as Merle dug her fangs into its neck. Angrily the beast
bucked and tossed the cat~girl to the floor. Merle shook her head trying to shake away the
dizziness of the fall. As a shadow crept over the cat she turned her head to see a dark demon
loom over her. The beast snarled happily. He was not forbidden to kill this being.....and he
would enjoy ever moment that he slay her......
The young cat tried to crawl away, but the beast laid a foot down upon her back and kept her
from escaping him. Merle turned her head to one side so she was able to see the gargoyle's
face. The demon placed a claw on the nape of the cat's neck bringing her face back. He snarled
in her face and the cat cringed from the foul breath she smelt. The daggers separated and the
beast went to snap his jaws over the cat's head, but stopped in a fit of howls. His claws
released the cat girl as he reared in unbearable pain. Unfortunately his foot still laid on Merle's
back so she couldn't escape. His eyes glared at the blade that protruded through his left
shoulder blade dripping in his red blood. Through much agony he removed the blade from his
back and tossed it across the room. The devil clutched his chest as blood oozed from the
wound. To the demon's luck the sword had barely missed his heart and lung.
Now the gargoyles anger was incredible. No longer was there any restraints on his actions.
Now the two girls were in true trouble......
The demon swung his hand back and hit something solid. Hitomi slid across the hard floor at the
force of the blow. While struggling to her knees the beast struck her again. This time he left
several scratches across her cheek. As she again slid to a stop at a wall she placed her hand
over the gashes. She was surprised to see the blood when she took away her hand. The seeress
turned in fear as she saw the beast charging her on all fours. The beast snorted as he pounced
through the air at her. Hitomi gave a small cry of surprise as she jumped away from the wall.
The beast barely missed her and he slammed into the wall. Unfortunately for Hitomi the beast
reflects were quick and his claws went up before he crashed into the steel surface. The sharp
claw went straight through the steel causing several small holes. The seeress deep green eyes
grew wide as she saw the beast remove his claws revealing the many holes.
Desperately her eyes searched for a weapon, but all she saw were more demons. Her green
eyes did catch sight of poor Merle huddling behind some large supplies. Her eyes were showing
she was quite frighten. Hitomi rushed towards the girl wanting to protect her, but a black shadow
leaped in front of her.
As the beast glared down at her the seeress shouted to the cat, "Stay there, Merle! I can handle
him!"
The poor cat~girl wanted to help her friend, but her terror kept her frozen. Her feet felt like a
million tons and her legs felt like jelly. She couldn't do anything......, but watch the seeress fight
the black monster.
The demon was tired of these games.....He wanted to taste the death of this girl.....even if it
took his very life.....
Again he lunged for the seeress, but Hitomi was smart and ducked beneath him. As he saw her
duck he stretched his arms and his claws ran across her back in several deep scratches. The
poor girl cried out in pain as she fell to the floor. Her white turtle neck began to redden in the
color of blood. The wounds weren't severe, but they were deep enough to bleed. Hitomi's
brown locks lifted as she twirled it towards the demon. The beast let out a roar and plunged
after her. Desperately she rolled to one side just as the gargoyles heavy feet landed on the spot
she had once been.
Her emerald eyes sparked as she realized she was out of options. The creature was faster than
she was and had quicker reflects. She knew it would only be a matter of time before the
creature took her down. She did the only thing she could do......she closed her eyes and called
upon the powers of Atlantians to help her.
A soft glow began to emit from the jewel, but it soon died. The girl stared down at the stone in
shock. What was wrong?
Her eyes lifted as another roar came from her attacker. As the beast went for her once again
she called out with her mind, "VAN!!!!!!"
The cry echoed throughout the dragon king's mind as he flew across the sky on Escaflowne.
The cry from his love made his heart freeze. What was happening to her? His senses were let
loose and they stretched across the sky. He felt her.......he felt her fear.....he could sense a
demon near her and he knew she was in danger..... He wouldn't let her die......
Van kicked the white dragon hard in his sides bringing the beast's attention towards the air ship.
Roaring through the air the legendary creature banked towards the floating ship. Van continued
to squeeze the beast's belly urging him to go faster. The glowing red energist shined a little
brighter giving energy to the dragon's blood allowing him to go faster than ever before. The
white creature folded in his wings going into a sharp dive. The young king held tightly to the red
and gold reins as the entrance of the docking bay came into view.....
Hitomi laid on her back as the great demon placed his claws over her wrists not allowing her to
move. No matter how much she struggled the seeress couldn't escape his steel hard clutches.
His fangs of dripping saliva came into view causing the girl to struggle harder. She couldn't die
now.....she had to live......
for her people......
her friends.......
for Van......
The beast brought his teeth to the girl's head ready for his meal, but a blow to his side sent him
sailing. The gargoyle slid to a stop and he angrily got up on all fours. A jet black haired man
rushed over to the demon's dinner as the large white dragon approached him. The dragon's
tongue ran over his teeth as he looked at the dark beast.
The dark creature knew he couldn't take on the dragon so he did the next best thing. The lead
demon glared at the rejoined couple one last time before he bolted for the exit.
Hungrily the white legend dove for the dark shadow. The dragon jaws snapped over thin air as
the demon flew off into the blue sky. The winged lizard snorted at the coward's escape, but the
dragon soon smiled as he noticed several more demons lurking around the docking bay.
Without a moment's thought the legendary beast lunged after his prey.
Van cradled the wounded Hitomi in his arms as Merle rushed to their side.
"Hitomi, are you alright?" he asked his voice full of deep concern. Merle's eyes filled with tears
as she stared at her wounded friend.
"Hitomi....." the cat~girl whispered as her friend continued to bleed in the king's arms.
The poor seeress groaned in pain as she spoke, "I think I'm alright.....Only a few scrapes and
bruises.....Nothing serious......"
The young royal was about to order for a doctor when a small light caught his eyes. Looking
down at Hitomi's face he noticed three long scratches. What surprised him was that the three
wounds were glowing a faint red. Merle and her foster brother stared in wonder as the wounds
slowly began to close as they contiuned to glow. First one closed......then two....and then
finally the third closed leaving only a small redness in the skin where the scratches had been.
Even that slowly began to fade away as the king held the young woman in his arms.
With a start the man suddenly realized the woman was no longer bleeding onto his arms.
Carefully he helped the seeress into a sitting position and he pulled back a little of the shredded
shirt so he might better see the wound. He gasped as he watched yet another wound close and
fade away.....
His only words appeared to hang in the air, "But......how?......"
~Sorry for this cliffhanger. I just made another mystery for you readers. Sorry if this really
mangles your mind, but its for the good of the story. It makes it much more interesting...."
~Whatcha guys thought about the Escaflowne changing into dragon thing? If you liked it good.
If you didn't just wait. More to come!~
~Alright readers tell me what you think! R&R PLEASE!!!!!!!~
~Here's a hint about this chapter! The dragon's gunna be the star in this chapter!~
~Hope you enjoy this chapter!~
The Fate of Two Worlds
By Angel Wings
Chapter 16 ~ The White Dragon Soars Once More
~Crusade~
Van rushed into the control room seeing Allen and Gaddis barking orders.
"Allen, what's going on?" the raven king cried over the shouts of commands.
The blonde knight turned to the boy and shouted across the room, "A group of
gargoyles are flying towards us from the south."
Van's eyes grew wide. He knew about gargoyles.......and the knowledge sent fear running
through his soul. Those devilish creatures were well feared by all who knew them. Someone
had to be insane not to fear those dark beasts. Van shook his head not willing to let fear
overtake him.
"I'll take Escaflowne out there" the young king shouted and he turned towards the docking bay
already rushing towards the metal giant.
"Wait!" Allen cried chasing after the raven man. Van came to a halt at the doorway as the
knight hurried to his side, "If you go on Escaflowne out there, you'll have to be in flight mode."
"Your point, Allen?" the man asked urgently. The creatures were growing closer and time for
action was at hand.
The knight stared into the man's eyes, "If your in flight mode you won't have any protection
from those demons......they'll tear you apart......"
The man's ruby red eyes turned towards the dark monsters flying towards them. He knew the
knight was right. He would be at a major disadvantage. Maybe he should use another
guymelef......No, Escaflowne and him were a team. They had fought through all battles and
won. He trusted his comrade.......the dragon would not let him down......
The man's fire eyes turned back to the knight's sky blues, "I know, Allen, but I have to go out
there......"
"Take another guymelef" the knight insisted not willing to let his friend set out on such a suicidal
battle.
The young king shook his head, "No, Escaflowne and I are bonded. I can fight better with
him......."
The two men stared at each other knowing this was a major decision that might seal the king's
fate. Allen just couldn't let him go out there by himself.
"Alright....." the knight replied, "I'll come with you.....I've got a guymelef that has a flight mode
so I'll be able to watch your back."
"Thank you, my friend" the king said as he placed a hand on the knight's shoulder, "Let us fight
by each other's side like old times...."
The two nodded and raced out of the room leaving Gaddis in charge.....
Dryden was already getting a guymelef started up as the two men rushed in. The guymelef's
chest was open so the man was able to shout to his friends, "Let's go, men! They're growing
closer with each moment!"
Van raced over the railing path leading to the metal giant, Escaflowne. Without a moment of
hesitation the boy leaped over the railing and landed on the guymelef's shoulder. Allen raced
over to a nearby guymelef of night blue coloration and proceeded to jump into the guymelef's
already opened chest. Escaflowne's chest opened with ease as Van spoke to it through his
mind, "Come on, old friend. Let us fight as one once again....." With little effort the raven
headed man jumped into the seat concealed in the chest.
Allen shouted to a crew member standing guard within the docking bay telling him to open the
doors. With a nod the man ran over to a panel and pressed a few buttons causing the doors of
the docking bay to slide open revealing a blue sky filled with black demons. Allen and
Dryden's guymelefs closed shut and made their way over to the edge of the opening. Van, on
seeing this, switched Escaflowne into to flight mode and took hold of the controls. As soon as
the knight and king jumped into the air, the young angel king took the white dragon into flight.
As the rush of air took him towards his target an image of his fiancé took over his mind. He
closed his fire eyes and whispered, "I promise you, Hitomi, I will return to you....."
Merle and Hitomi thrust opened the door leading to the hanger and rushed in. On seeing the
empty spot where the legendary guymelef had once stood the seeress automatically knew her
love had gone into battle. Her emerald eyes turned to the sky. The three guymelefs were flying
towards the black dots and for a moment she thought Zaibach was attacking, but then she felt
what it was......It wasn't Zaibach approaching......it was......something else.....
"What's going on?!" an angry cry came. Hitomi turned to see the young cat~girl holding the
collar of a crew member.
"Answer Me!" Merle shouted as her fur ruffled and her ears laid back, "Why did Lord
Van~sama leave?!"
The man's eyes were wide with fear and he shook as he answered the mad cat, "Gargoyles are
headed towards the Crusade! King Van, King Dryden, and Sir Allen have all gone to deal with
the demons!"
The young cat dropped the man in shock as fear gripped her heart, "Did you say Gargoyles?!"
Hitomi stood back a little confused. She had heard about gargoyles on her planet in fiction
stories and had even read a little about them in the 'Book of Angels', but she didn't really know
anything about the beings.
The seeress couldn't help, but ask, "Merle, what are gargoyles?"
The frightened cat~girl turned to her dear friend as tears began to slip down her eyes, "They are
evil demon beasts who attack for the pure pleasure of slaughtering people. They are extremely
strong and very dangerous. Lord Van~sama doesn't stand a chance if he stays in Escaflowne's
flight mode. He won't have any protection from those devils!"
To Hitomi the room seemed to spin and she had to grab the wall to steady herself. Van was
going to die......
Celena along with Queen Millerina stood in the control room of the Crusade talking with
Gaddis.
"Doesn't this ship have any defenses?" the queen asked angrily.
The man nodded, "Yes, it does, but the weapons might endanger the men out there. We might
hit them by mistake."
Celena stepped forward to Gaddis, "Aren't their more guymelef's that can fly?"
"Yes...." the man replied, "I already have soldiers loading them up, but even with them we are
at a disadvantage. Those beasts are small targets to the guymelefs and move swiftly in the air.
They can rip through the metal of our machines and probably take several of the guymelefs out.
We'll lose men in this battle for sure....."
The lavender eyes of the maiden turned to the controls wondering if there was anything they
could possible do to help the men. The blonde women bit their lips fearing for their loves ones.
They could do nothing except hope that the men came back safely. They were in a bad
situation......
The lead beasts saw the ship release several giant metal creatures and it knew the fight would
be a lot harder with those machines. With a roar the beast flew straight for the creatures for he
would do anything for a battle.....even go against these giants.....
Van watched warily as the creatures increased their speed and continued towards them. They
were scattered across the sky, but he could tell their was a formation through the way the flew.
He had to scatter them..... The young king smile as he gripped the handles of the controls. He
knew what to do....
Closing his eyes the man let out his thoughts to the dragon that flew beneath him and said,
"Faster, my friend.......faster....."
Within a moment of the thought the metal dragon transform to its faster flight mode. Blue fire
blasted from behind the flyers and the dragon along with its pilot flew at an incredible speed
towards the center of the group of gargoyles.
The lead creature was too surprised by the quickness of the white monster to escape its path
and was smash into by the great beast. The leader howled in pain as he plummet through the
clouds. His red glowing eyes caught sight of his people losing formation and scattering across
the blue atmosphere. Soon the other metal giants came and began to pick of his fellows.....one
by one.....
Angrily the leader growled and beat his leathery wing righting himself in the air. His tail twisted in
rage and he soared towards the beings. His speed began to increase as he caught sight of the
white beast that had first attacked him. He would kill him first.....
Escaflowne tail struck down another black beast causing the creature to fall towards the ground.
Van struggled desperately with the controls as more dark demons landed on the back of the
metal dragon. There were too many for him to handle. He couldn't release the controls or
Escaflowne would start falling towards the earth. The young king growled in frustration as
another demon leaped towards the occupied man's face. The white dragon's head reared up
catching the beast off guard and sent the creature flying over the raven haired man's head. The
tails and claws of the white beast were knocking the demons off, but more continued to drop
down onto the dragon's back. Van knew it was growing far worse than he had expected. Allen
and Dryden were able to keep the attention of several of the gargoyles, but there were so many
that several would slip by within seconds. The two just couldn't hold them back. Even the extra
soldiers weren't enough to handle the situation. The beasts' claws were hard as diamonds and
could easily cut through the guymelef's armor. Some of the soldiers were even ripped from their
control seats. The demons would make short work of the soldier while the metal giant would
fall down to the surface of Gaea.
"VAN!" Allen cried over the PA, "They're too many for us to take! We need to fall back!"
The eyes of the young king turned towards the Crusade. Several of the demons had made their
way over to the sail ship. Most of them circled around the top of the ship dangerously close to
the sails, but for some reason they made no attempt to rip the material. It made no sense to the
angel king. They had come to kill them, but they refused to even touch their weak point.
Ruby eyes looked towards the docking bay entrance to see a pair of gargoyles fly in and then
fly right back out. What were they doing?.....
Sounds behind him caused the king's raven head snapped around in time to see five demons
land on the back of Escaflowne. His hands pulled at the control bringing the dragons tail up and
strike down three of the beasts. One leaped for the man's head, but a swift attack by one of the
claws took down the creature. The fifth beast went for the king's leg, but the other back leg hit
the gargoyle hard in the chest breaking a few ribs. Van brought his forearm to his brow wiping
away his sweat. The dragon's tail wrapped around a demon squeezing it tightly. Van got
distracted as a demon flew in dangerously close to his head. It would have hit him, but quick
reflects allowed the man to dodge it and missed him by merely a hair. He would never had seen
the next creature if it hadn't roared a challenge. The angel king turned around to see a black
shadow come charging towards his face.....
Hitomi stood not far from the open entrance of the docking bay watching the battle from afar.
Her heart jumped into her throat each time a gargoyle grew close to her beloved. Several times
gargoyles flew inside the docking bay. They'd fly low and fast roaring as they flew, but they
couldn't get a chance to attack any of them for several of the crew members had armed
themselves and were guarding the opening. The demons just couldn't find an opening. Red
glowing eyes glared angrily at the gleaming blades of the men's swords.
The soldiers couldn't close the bay for they needed to leave the hanger open so guymelefs could
return if they got too badly damage. If they closed it and a guymelef was so badly injured that it
needed to land immediately they wouldn't be able to open the doors fast enough. To lose a man
for such a stupid thing was just not worth the risk.
The seeress stood behind several crew members watching the fight in fear. Merle stood next to
the girl holding her arm tightly. Perhaps they were safer in the control room, but Hitomi refused
to move even though Merle insisted. Hitomi didn't want to leave when her fiancé might die. She
would stay there until Van fell from the sky....
Suddenly Hitomi's breathe locked in her throat. Van was busy controlling Escaflowne when a
gargoyle came from beneath the dragon from the cover of the clouds. Time began to slow down
as the moment played. The beast flew straight past the dragon's head and stopped several feet
away from the man. A roar that made men's blood freeze rang through the air and the demon
dove for the man's face. Van's hair flipped as his head snapped around, but far too late for the
creature was only centimeters away......
Hitomi closed her eyes and gave an urgent shout, "VAN!!!!!!"
The king saw everything go in slow motion. He heard the pounding of his heart in his ears as he
stared into the face of a demon. Its glowing red eyes held a reflection of the raven man as the
creature growled in pleasure. Van couldn't move or think......all he could say was, "Escaflowne,
protect me....."
Suddenly the metal beast who had always been merely a machine began to change. It's hollow
eyes began to glow and soon green eyes looked out through the metal armor. It's red wings of
plain cloth began to grow leathery. Its armor of cold steel began to become armor over white
scales of glittering jewels. The controls held in the fist of the angel king became reins of red and
gold cloth. The glowing red energist that had once shined in his claw now shone brightly on a
piece of armor protecting the dragon's chest. In the matter of moments, the guymelef known as
Escaflowne had become a real dragon decorated by armor that resembled its former self.
The beast growled in anticipation of the flesh he would soon devour. Oh, the demon felt so
blessed to have this kill. His claws ripped from his fingers as he reached for the man, but
suddenly he felt sharp daggers clamp over his tail. The beast was halted only centimeters away
from the man's face and tossed backwards through the air. Angrily the demon turned towards
his attacker and felt a fear grip his dark soul. His eyes of red glowing orbs were glaring into the
eyes of a dragon, a creature known for eating his kind. This demon knew better than to
challenge such a predator. With a beat of the wing he turned away from the beast and headed
towards another hopeful kill.....
Perhaps the white dragon might have follow, but more demons began to rack his back trying to
slaughter his keeper and he would not let his friend die.
Van's mouth hung open as he stared down at his guymelef. His own personal machine had
transform right beneath him into a white dragon of armor. The man's mind could barely accept
the knowledge of this change, even though it was true. The legendary guymelef, Escaflowne,
had actually become the white dragon.....
Dryden gasped as he watched the dragon transform in the corner of his eye. Could it be?
Allen gasped as the white metal dragon became flesh and bone, "What the?!?!"
The king watched in awe as the dragon fought with new energy and better swiftness. Rows of
daggers crushed the gargoyles within the dragon's mouth and the tail became like a stringer
striking anything that challenged it. Claws of great sharpness slashed violently at the demons.
Soon the bodies of the dark creatures began to fall away from the sky.
When there was a free moment the great dragon of white scales turned his head to one side,
allowing him to see his rider with a large green eye. Van stared into the emerald globe with
shock still not unable to believe what he saw. For a second, the king thought he saw a smile
appear on the dragon's face,..... but it soon melted away almost as though it had never been
there and the dragon dove into the clouds.
From the air fluttering just high enough to view the chase his people gave the white dragon was
the lead gargoyle. His tongue ran over his teeth of daggers. He had lost this prey, but he would
find another. Let his people be foolish enough to attack the creature, perhaps they would have a
better chance as a pack then as individuals. The leader turned his head to metal sail ship and he
felt a twinge of power emitting from it. His powers were limited so he couldn't truly know how
great the power was, but his small mind knew who it was......it was the one he could not kill.....
the seeress.....
With a loud roar he dove towards the steel ship. If he could not kill her then he would at least
fight her for the lust of battle. To find a worthy opponent made the fight all the more thrilling and
if this being had powers than this creature would surely give a good fight. He would make sure
to not completely kill her, but leave her so badly damage that she would almost be dead.....
Van looked back to see dozens of gargoyles tailing them. The king growled in frustration at the
presence of the creatures and turned his head in time to see the cloud that they flew through.
Escaflowne dove and twisted through the clouds trying desperately to evade the black demons,
but they stayed with the dragon with turn for turn. Van knew that one of them had to give up in
the end, but he wasn't willing to wait.
As the dragon and king plunged through another mist of clouds they were able to see view of
the ground. Soon the canyon shaped like a crescent moon caught the raven headed man's eyes.
The Crusade had finally made it to the Canyon of Gryphons. A smile grew on the young royal's
face as a plan began to form.
The man kicked the dragon's sides catching the beast's attention. A green eye looked over at
the royal wondering what he wanted. The man pulled at the reins in the same matter he had
once held the controls showing he wanted the creature to dive. The legendary beast didn't
understand, but did as he was commanded. He trusted his rider.....
As they dove towards the earth the demon dove with them not willing to let go of the chase.
The ground rushed up to meet the dragon and king, but as they began to grow dangerously
close the king pulled the reins showing the dragon to fly through the crevice of the canyon. With
a beat of its wings the dragon turned towards the chasm and flew through the narrow pass. The
black demons flew like a flock and turned along with the dragon not even losing speed. The
dragon, catching sight of this, flew faster trying desperately to lose the gargoyles.
Green eyes caught sight of several nests lying along side the cliffs and the dragon smiled. Soon
gryphons began to launch from their nest heading straight for the invaders. Eagle shrieks filled
the air and the flying cats attacked. Escaflowne easily dodged past the loins and soared back
towards the sky while the demons were struck down by talons and beaks. The gargoyles were
forced to stop the chase and turn their attention towards the flying lions. The mighty gryphons
flew after the white dragon for several hundred feet, but once seeing that the giant lizard was
leaving soon banked back towards the gargoyles to finish them off.
Van turned a little on Escaflowne's back and stared down at the battle between lion and demon.
A smile broke across his face as he saw the gryphons gaining the upper hand. Gryphons were
far faster and larger than the gargoyles. It caused the demons to become good targets for the
eagle-lions allowing them to bring the dead to their brood (offspring). The young king turned
around and gave the white dragon a little kick causing the great beast to speed onward into the
blue heavens.
Hitomi heart was bursting with happiness as she saw the young king and the new dragon fly
through the clouds with not a single black beast pursuing them. The seeress felt tears swell in her
eyes, but they were soon blinked away when a dark shadow began to grow closer. This beast
seemed larger than the others as he flew towards them. The seeress felt Merle tense at the sight
of the beast as she held the girl's arm. The creature roared and swooped down into the hanger,
landing on his hind legs.
As he stood on his feet people were able to see his true height......he was taller than the crew
members by several feet. His wings spread to their full length and he reared his head roaring
loudly. The crew members shook with fear for he was the first gargoyle to land inside the
docking bay and it was obvious he wanted to do more than just scare them......The demon of
black licked his fangs with a deep red tongue. His devil tail 'swished' across the metal floor like
a scorpion's stinger. With a growl he showed his claws and began to slowly head towards
Hitomi and the cat~girl who stood behind three crew members.
One of man gave a warrior cry and rushed the creature. The crew member swung his sword at
the beast's chest, but the gargoyle simply dodged it and slashes the man across the chest. While
howling in pain the man fell and his weapon clattered to the metal floor. The lead gargoyle gave
a small growl and continued towards the group letting his fellow beasts to finish the dying man.
Hitomi covered her mouth as she watched the creatures began to tear apart the man's body.
Merle squeezed her eyes shut against the slaughter and held Hitomi's arm more tightly.
The dark leader stepped closer to the group as they watched in disgust at the display. A roar
fell from the devil's dark lips in a challenge. Another crew member charged the beast in hope
of protecting the seeress and young cat~girl. The demon growled angrily and swung a claw at
the man, but the crew member ducked.
As the two fought the third crewmen turned to the cat and girl, "GO! BEFORE IT COMES
OVER HERE!"
Hitomi bit her lip, "But what about you?!" She didn't want to live the man to die for their
sakes....
"I'm not important! NOW GO!!!!" he shouted before plunging towards the demon. The
gargoyle finally finished the other man and turned to the next challenger. Hitomi didn't hesitate
any longer. She swung Merle around and bolted for the door across the room.
The lead beast slashed at the man angrily. They were keeping him away from his prey and he
would not allow them to escape. His glowing eyes caught sight of them running towards the exit
and he roared in rage. With a slash of his claws the man fell to the hard ground dead. The
creature leaped into the air just as his fellows jumped onto the carcass. While they began to
devour their meal the leader glided across the room towards his fleeing prey.
They had been only a few yards away from the door when the beast casted a shadow over
them causing them to halt. Hitomi gasped at the sight of the creature as he landed only a few
feet from them, blocking their path. The poor cat~girl whimpered silently in fear as she clutched
Hitomi's arm. The beast smiled at their fear. His smile just made him more frightening for you
could see the rows of sharp daggers that occupied his mouth. As the demon took a step
towards them Hitomi and Merle slowly backed away. Unfortunately the two of them were
cornered. Behind them lied several more gargoyles and no exit. A growl came from the depths
of the demon's throat as he took another step in their direction. Hitomi's mind reeled as she
desperately tried to think of a plan to escape this monster, but her mind was a blank.....
Without warning a man with a drawn sword tossed himself onto the beast from behind. The
gargoyle reared in angry and a roar pierced the air. The man hung on for dear life on the
creature's back as the creature bucked and lost the hold on his blade. The gleaming sword slid
across the metal floor and stopped not far from Hitomi's feet. The girl saw her reflecting in the
blade as it stared up at her from the floor. Her emeralds eyes turned up to see the monster in
rage trying to pulled the man from his back. The demon clawed at the man while he twirled
around like a dog chases his tail. Without giving it a second thought the seeress picked up the
sword and charged the monster.
"No, Hitomi!" Merle cried urgently, but the girl didn't stop.
On hearing the cry, the gargoyle tossed the man aside and swung around to face the attacker,
but he met only a sharp blade. The beast tried to dodge it, but the sword was too quick and it
sliced off his ear. Howling in pain the demon reared up clutching the place where his ear once
stood. Blood trickled through its claws as he screeched in pain. Hitomi didn't wait for it to
recover and swung the blade again. Unfortunately she had never really used a sword so aim was
inaccurate. She did, however, cause a bloody slice across the creature's chest. Rage seared
through the demon and he swung his claw at the girl causing her and the blade to sail across the
room and crash against one of the large guymelefs that were docked.
Hitomi's forest green eyes looked up in fear as the creature stormed over to her. Its glowing
orbs of fire glared down at her and his lips were set in a snarl showing off his fangs. No longer
did he care if he killed the seeress or not. His anger had taken over his actions as he lifted a
sharp claw over his head. The shadow of his claw played over the frightened girl's face as she
saw death standing before her.
A sharp cry came from the gargoyle as Merle dug her fangs into its neck. Angrily the beast
bucked and tossed the cat~girl to the floor. Merle shook her head trying to shake away the
dizziness of the fall. As a shadow crept over the cat she turned her head to see a dark demon
loom over her. The beast snarled happily. He was not forbidden to kill this being.....and he
would enjoy ever moment that he slay her......
The young cat tried to crawl away, but the beast laid a foot down upon her back and kept her
from escaping him. Merle turned her head to one side so she was able to see the gargoyle's
face. The demon placed a claw on the nape of the cat's neck bringing her face back. He snarled
in her face and the cat cringed from the foul breath she smelt. The daggers separated and the
beast went to snap his jaws over the cat's head, but stopped in a fit of howls. His claws
released the cat girl as he reared in unbearable pain. Unfortunately his foot still laid on Merle's
back so she couldn't escape. His eyes glared at the blade that protruded through his left
shoulder blade dripping in his red blood. Through much agony he removed the blade from his
back and tossed it across the room. The devil clutched his chest as blood oozed from the
wound. To the demon's luck the sword had barely missed his heart and lung.
Now the gargoyles anger was incredible. No longer was there any restraints on his actions.
Now the two girls were in true trouble......
The demon swung his hand back and hit something solid. Hitomi slid across the hard floor at the
force of the blow. While struggling to her knees the beast struck her again. This time he left
several scratches across her cheek. As she again slid to a stop at a wall she placed her hand
over the gashes. She was surprised to see the blood when she took away her hand. The seeress
turned in fear as she saw the beast charging her on all fours. The beast snorted as he pounced
through the air at her. Hitomi gave a small cry of surprise as she jumped away from the wall.
The beast barely missed her and he slammed into the wall. Unfortunately for Hitomi the beast
reflects were quick and his claws went up before he crashed into the steel surface. The sharp
claw went straight through the steel causing several small holes. The seeress deep green eyes
grew wide as she saw the beast remove his claws revealing the many holes.
Desperately her eyes searched for a weapon, but all she saw were more demons. Her green
eyes did catch sight of poor Merle huddling behind some large supplies. Her eyes were showing
she was quite frighten. Hitomi rushed towards the girl wanting to protect her, but a black shadow
leaped in front of her.
As the beast glared down at her the seeress shouted to the cat, "Stay there, Merle! I can handle
him!"
The poor cat~girl wanted to help her friend, but her terror kept her frozen. Her feet felt like a
million tons and her legs felt like jelly. She couldn't do anything......, but watch the seeress fight
the black monster.
The demon was tired of these games.....He wanted to taste the death of this girl.....even if it
took his very life.....
Again he lunged for the seeress, but Hitomi was smart and ducked beneath him. As he saw her
duck he stretched his arms and his claws ran across her back in several deep scratches. The
poor girl cried out in pain as she fell to the floor. Her white turtle neck began to redden in the
color of blood. The wounds weren't severe, but they were deep enough to bleed. Hitomi's
brown locks lifted as she twirled it towards the demon. The beast let out a roar and plunged
after her. Desperately she rolled to one side just as the gargoyles heavy feet landed on the spot
she had once been.
Her emerald eyes sparked as she realized she was out of options. The creature was faster than
she was and had quicker reflects. She knew it would only be a matter of time before the
creature took her down. She did the only thing she could do......she closed her eyes and called
upon the powers of Atlantians to help her.
A soft glow began to emit from the jewel, but it soon died. The girl stared down at the stone in
shock. What was wrong?
Her eyes lifted as another roar came from her attacker. As the beast went for her once again
she called out with her mind, "VAN!!!!!!"
The cry echoed throughout the dragon king's mind as he flew across the sky on Escaflowne.
The cry from his love made his heart freeze. What was happening to her? His senses were let
loose and they stretched across the sky. He felt her.......he felt her fear.....he could sense a
demon near her and he knew she was in danger..... He wouldn't let her die......
Van kicked the white dragon hard in his sides bringing the beast's attention towards the air ship.
Roaring through the air the legendary creature banked towards the floating ship. Van continued
to squeeze the beast's belly urging him to go faster. The glowing red energist shined a little
brighter giving energy to the dragon's blood allowing him to go faster than ever before. The
white creature folded in his wings going into a sharp dive. The young king held tightly to the red
and gold reins as the entrance of the docking bay came into view.....
Hitomi laid on her back as the great demon placed his claws over her wrists not allowing her to
move. No matter how much she struggled the seeress couldn't escape his steel hard clutches.
His fangs of dripping saliva came into view causing the girl to struggle harder. She couldn't die
now.....she had to live......
for her people......
her friends.......
for Van......
The beast brought his teeth to the girl's head ready for his meal, but a blow to his side sent him
sailing. The gargoyle slid to a stop and he angrily got up on all fours. A jet black haired man
rushed over to the demon's dinner as the large white dragon approached him. The dragon's
tongue ran over his teeth as he looked at the dark beast.
The dark creature knew he couldn't take on the dragon so he did the next best thing. The lead
demon glared at the rejoined couple one last time before he bolted for the exit.
Hungrily the white legend dove for the dark shadow. The dragon jaws snapped over thin air as
the demon flew off into the blue sky. The winged lizard snorted at the coward's escape, but the
dragon soon smiled as he noticed several more demons lurking around the docking bay.
Without a moment's thought the legendary beast lunged after his prey.
Van cradled the wounded Hitomi in his arms as Merle rushed to their side.
"Hitomi, are you alright?" he asked his voice full of deep concern. Merle's eyes filled with tears
as she stared at her wounded friend.
"Hitomi....." the cat~girl whispered as her friend continued to bleed in the king's arms.
The poor seeress groaned in pain as she spoke, "I think I'm alright.....Only a few scrapes and
bruises.....Nothing serious......"
The young royal was about to order for a doctor when a small light caught his eyes. Looking
down at Hitomi's face he noticed three long scratches. What surprised him was that the three
wounds were glowing a faint red. Merle and her foster brother stared in wonder as the wounds
slowly began to close as they contiuned to glow. First one closed......then two....and then
finally the third closed leaving only a small redness in the skin where the scratches had been.
Even that slowly began to fade away as the king held the young woman in his arms.
With a start the man suddenly realized the woman was no longer bleeding onto his arms.
Carefully he helped the seeress into a sitting position and he pulled back a little of the shredded
shirt so he might better see the wound. He gasped as he watched yet another wound close and
fade away.....
His only words appeared to hang in the air, "But......how?......"
~Sorry for this cliffhanger. I just made another mystery for you readers. Sorry if this really
mangles your mind, but its for the good of the story. It makes it much more interesting...."
~Whatcha guys thought about the Escaflowne changing into dragon thing? If you liked it good.
If you didn't just wait. More to come!~
~Alright readers tell me what you think! R&R PLEASE!!!!!!!~
