The Three Dark Lords, obtain what Lord Lawrence refers to as The Final Distratction.  Hitomi has a vision telling her all that has taken place.  The four, Van, Hitomi, Merle and Nathen, have changed as is noticed by their friends.  And Van and Hitomi share a special moment, the birth of a world.

Chapter 28:  The Final Distraction

In Freid there is nothing to do but wait for the return of Van and Hitomi.  News is filtering in from all over Gaea of changes; heavy rains in dry areas, dormant volcanoes becoming active after decades, early snow in the mountain passes.  And the reports of dragons moving, they are heading towards the forests of Fanilia.  The balance on Gaea is becoming more and more unstable.

It is early afternoon and Yukari is walking the halls of the palace while Amano is training with Allen.  She is approached by one of the crewman from the Crusade. He is the doppelganger on his secret mission, doing his masters' bidding.

Crewman: "Mistress Yukari, Master Amano asks that you meet him in the gardens in one hour."

Yukari: "Really, I thought he was working with Allen all day."

Crewman: "He must be going to taking a break."

The crewman leaves and Yukari continues walking.  She had planned to meet Millerna later, so she goes to Dryden's study on the Crusade.  She knocks on the door then enters; Dryden is working, as the time to the eclipse is growing closer and he still hasn't come up with anything concerning the last of the Prophecy.

Yukari: "Excuse me Dryden."

Dryden looks up from the text he is reading and motions her over.

Yukari: "I was going to meet Millerna here in a while, but Amano sent word for me to meet him in the gardens.  I'll come back after wards.  I just wanted to let her know."

Dryden: "Yes, ok I'll do that."

Yukari gets up to leave; she can see how much Dryden wants to get back to the text.

It's almost time to meet Amano and Yukari is in the garden waiting.  She sees someone approaching.

Dryden is still engrossed in the text before him when another knock disturbs his concentration.  He sighs as he calls for the newest interruption to enter.  Amano enters the room and looks around expecting to see Yukari and Millerna.  When he just stands there Dryden sets the text down.

Dryden: "What is it now, I can't do anything with all these interruptions."

Amano: "Sorry Dryden, I was looking for Yukari, I thought she was meeting Millerna here."

Dryden: "She was, but she went to the gardens to meet you instead."

Amano: "UH! Meet me?"

Dryden looks up again and sighs.  Amano is clearly confused.

Dryden: "She said you sent word to meet you there."

Amano: "No I didn't."

Dryden: "Damit!"

Knocking over the chair, Dryden jumps to his feet and heads for the mouth tube.

Dryden: "Gaddis sound the alarm all men to the palace gardens, now!"

Amano: "Oh my god no!"

Men are rushing thru the palace; all hears the alarm from the Crusade.  Allen arrives just as Dryden, Amano, and the crew converge on the gardens.

Gaddis: "Commander, the men are ready."

Yukari thought Amano had come, but it is just the crewman she saw earlier.

Yukari: "Hi, guess this means Amano can't make it, Its alright I'll go catch up to Millerna."

As she moves to go past the crewman grabs her.

Crewman: "Not so fast girl.  You're here to meet someone, but it's not Amano."

The crewman changes form, his is no human, his skin is a pasty blue, his large eyes a strange color of green, and beads hang from his earlobes.  Yukari tries to scream, but the doppelganger is quick, he slaps her hard in the face to silence her and drags her to the far end of the garden.  Yukari can hear laughter, but no one is there.  Then the voice, it seems to be coming from the very air in front of them.

Dilandau: "You have her I see.  Good."

Doppelganger: "Yes my Lord Dilandau."

The air shimmers, as a large red guymelf appears before Zinga and his captive.  He pushes Yukari forward so that the Guymelfs giant hand can grasp her.

Dilandau: "You have done well, the Lords will be pleased."

The guymelf raises its other hand and shoots a single crimiclaw through the doppelganger killing him.

Dilandau: "And that is your reward, I hate doppelgangers."

Men come rushing into the gardens from all sides; none has expected to see a guymelf.  There are shouts and confusion, and a call goes out to alert the melf unit to the gardens.  In the front of the men are the ones that Dilandau has been waiting to see before he leaves with his prize.  He looks them over, contemplating each in his warped mind. 'Dryden, your just a stupid merchant, your not even fit to wear royal robes.  Amano, the man from the Mystic Moon, so pathetic, but I am excited to take your woman from you, and your resemblance to Allen, will make killing you all the more enjoyable.  And of course my dear brother Allen, when I kill you I will cut your beautiful hair as was done to me.  It will be my trophy.'

Dilandau: "Tell that trouble maker Hitomi, I have her friend.  She is to come to the shrine at Cred the day of the triple eclipse or this one dies.  Don't try to keep her away."

The red guymelf shifts into flight mode and lifts off.  Yukari is terrified; she reaches a hand toward Amano.  Amano raises his arm extending it to her.

Amano: "No Yukari No!"

Amano drops to his knees and buries his head in his hands.

Amano: "Please don't let her die."

Escaflowne is flying thru the sky heading for Freid.  Hitomi is seated in front of Van and the cats behind him.  They have been traveling almost nonstop in their haste to reach the palace there as soon as possible.  Only once have they stopped to sleep, and that only at Hitomi's insistence when she can see that Van is pushing himself too far.  The bonding of the Dragon Fire is growing stronger in both couples, each sensing the feelings of their mates in ways that almost make them feel as one person.  This feeling is at the same time wonderful, and frightening.

Merle: "I can't believe anyone would make another take that, that Dragon stuff and then not take it themselves, these feelings, if I were having them alone, I would be nothing more than a slave.  I couldn't live like that.

Van: "That's one of the reasons why it's illegal, many women ended their own lives because of those feelings."

Hitomi: "That's horrible I…. OH NO." 

Hitomi stops in mid sentence that familiar far away look on her face as the vision takes over her mind.  The world darkens around Hitomi and a strange wind blows thru her hair, she is human again, dressed in the jeans and soft pink crop top as she was the night of the comet, she is a visitor in the events taking place right now in Freid.  She sees a cloaked red guymelf in the garden at the palace temple of Freid, and then she hears laughter, and the voice of Dilandau. 'You have her I see.  Good.'  Hitomi sees a doppelganger; he still wears the clothes of a crewman, one of the crew from the Crusade.  'Yes my Lord Dilandau.'  The guymelf uncloaks and extends a hand, and the doppelganger pushes forward a woman.  She is grasped in the giant's hand.  'You have done well the lords will be pleased.'  With that Dilandau extends the other guymelfs hand and shoots a crimiclaw through the doppelganger killing him. 'And that is your reward, I hate doppelgangers.'  Hitomi can hear shouts as men come running.  'Tell that troublemaker Hitomi I have her friend.  She is to come to the shrine at Cred the day of the triple eclipse or this one dies.  Don't try to keep her away.'  The red guymelf shifts into flight mode lifting off.  Above the other shouts she hears one strangled cry.  It is Amano 'No Yukari No.' 

The vision fades and Hitomi slumps forward, Van barley keeping her from falling to the ground so far below.

Van: "Hitomi, Hitomi what is it?"

Hitomi tries to lift her head, her voice is barley above a horse whisper.

Hitomi: "Dilandau has Yukari, we have to save her, Van fly faster."

Hitomi can no longer keep total darkness away, she welcomes it as she faints.

Van: "Nathen help me, take Hitomi."

Nathen reaches around and brings Hitomi to the back of Escaflowne with him and Merle.

Van: "Now hold on to her tight."

Van closes his eyes, all his mind focused on Escaflowne.

Van: "Fly faster, even Faster."

Escaflowne shifts mode, streamlining its body, then in a great burst, it accelerates flying faster and faster. 

Allen is standing on the balcony outside his palace temple room looking out at the mountains far off in the distance.  Aries comes up to lay a hand on his shoulder.

Aries: "None of you had time to stop it.  Don't blame yourself."

Allen: "But I do.  Dilandau like it or not is my family and that doppelganger was disguised as part of my crew.  Yukari has been taken and as a knight and as the commander of the Crusade it is my responsibility.  On top of that I have just received word that Escaflowne is missing from the Guymelf bay."

Aries: "Oh Allen."

She rests her head on his arm wishing more than anything to help, but she also knows how he feels, she was responsible for Celena.  Her gaze travels to the beautiful landscape surrounding the palace grounds.  She can see a light on the horizon something is coming.

Aries: "Look up there something's coming, but it's moving so fast."

Allen looks in the direction Aries is and spots it, a guymelf flying this direction.  He needs only one look to know who is coming.  He strides quickly to the door and out into the hall, motioning to the nearest guard.

Allen: "Go to the Crusade and see Gaddis, tell him to get everyone together, Escaflowne is coming!"

Escaflowne slows and switches back to regular flight mode, then lands in the gardens at the palace, the same garden Yukari was taken from.  Van is exhausted, and Hitomi seems to be unconscious. 

Merle: "Help Lord Van down."

Millerna: "Are they alright, Hitomi, Hitomi?"

Merle: "She's out, she saw Dilandau take Yukari, the vision was too strong for her, she needs rest, they both need rest"

Van is helped down, but as Allen tries to take Hitomi from Nathen, Van stops him.

Van: "Nathen has her, just show us the way.  Merle needs to rest too."

The possiveness in Van's voice startles Allen, so he backs off, wondering what has been going on since they were separated.  There will definitely be a story to hear later, after they get the rest they all obviously need.

Van and Hitomi sleep for hours, but Merle and Nathen get up after only a couple to eat and then go back to sleep again.  The four of them seem different, Van and Hitomi are understandable, but since when have Merle and Nathen been inseperatable.  Every one is left to wait till they are all up to get any answers.

Allen orders the Crusade prepared and both Sharizad, and Escaflowne checked out.  If anyone is going to fight Dilandau it will be Allen.

Millerna is concerned at the length of time Hitomi has been out, but after stopping in once she finds that she is now just sleeping and no longer unconscious.  Hitomi is snuggled closely into Van so close it would seem that the two are made from a single mold.  Van sighs in his sleep reaching up to cup Hitomi's breast pulling her still closer to him.  Millerna smiles as she quietly closes the door.

As Hitomi and Van sleep they dream together, It is Hitomi's dream, but Van is there sharing it with her. 

A bright light shoots out from the Mystic Moon and Gaea is formed.  The dragon opens his eyes; he knows the truth of his beginning.  He is the first of many new races to populate this land of new beginnings.  Within his chest a crystal beats in his heart, it is the Light of Balance and he, part mythical beast, part man is its guardian.  He senses the power spot to the West, the resting place of the power of the people whose very will created this place.  To the East resides those with the knowledge of the creator's ways and to the South is the gateway to their once beautiful realm, now destroyed by their own foolishness.  Above in the sky the beginnings in a place to be seen by all, forever, the Mystic Moon, below the most precious, the world created to give dreams a second chance.  He bows his head with a solemn prayer, that they the new peoples of a new world will endure the trails of this their home, for in his heart he knows there will be many, and someday they will allow this world to give rebirth to the people who created them.  The scene shifts and the first dragon is old, centuries old with very little life remaining in his body.  He takes his final breath surrounded by his clan.  His crystal, energist it is called, is removed and placed in a shrine, for as long as it remains the balance of this world will remain.  The dragonmere clan will guard it and keep it safe for the entire world. 

The dream is beautiful and sad, but full of promise and hope.  Van and Hitomi awaken together.  They have just witnessed the birth of Van's world.  Hitomi turns in Van's arms.  This is a special time, a time before all their troubles come back to haunt them.  Van slowly strokes Hitomi's body remembering every inch of her with his hands.  Fire and passion ignite in them; the feelings stronger than even the birth of this world could create.  They join together, becoming one in the joy they feel.  It is a bittersweet love mating, over too soon.  Endearments of love are still on their lips as they come back to the here and now. 

Hitomi: "It's time. I feel a pulling in my soul, telling me to head for my Cred."

Hitomi loosing her best friend to Lord Dilandau, and sees the birth of Gaea. Van and Hitomi come closer to the end of the Prophecy, but how will it end.  Next chapter The Crusade heads for Fanilia and the Dragon Forest, Hitomi again has a vision, this time what might be, and the Dragon becomes.  Chapter 29:  Visions of what Could Be.