Date. 07.30.2001
Time. 6.55 pm
Music. 80s Club Hits
Chapter 10
Copyright. I don't own the Vision of Escaflowne or any of its characters but I do own all the ones that I created.
Author's Notes. I'm so sorry that's it's taken so long to get this chapter out. It was one of the turning points in RF and this was the first thing I had imagined. But it was so hard to write out! Ay ya! Plus, either something was wrong with my computer or the site, but I had absolutely no way of getting to fanfiction.net. I couldn't read any new updates. Nothing! I hope to get at least three more chapters out before I leave for school. But once I get there, production is probably going to be a lot slower until I get my own computer.
PS. I go to Native American reservations each year and I was given a dream catcher one year for a thank you gift. Attached to the dream catcher was a poem that has influenced this story a lot. So here it is for your enjoyment:
THE DREAM
Dream
Catch a dream
Flowing free and clean
From streams of quiet twilight
Where finite foes like worry and woe
Seem redeemed by unseen sight
Dream the dreamers dream
Learn to live
Love
The Vision of Escaflowne. Rota Fortunae
Chapter 10. A Little Dream of Me
* * *
Silence lumbered over the darkened hull of the Crusade, imprinting a uneasiness over its riders. Some voiced mutterings of how the kingdom was ruled in his day and should be now. Mothers cooed to their weeping babes, trying to calm themselves in doing so. Even the rowdy children, normally deafening when in large groups, sat huddled together in fearful whispers.
Merle and Celena wandered through the masses, aiding anyone who seemed to wounded, but able to be repair. Millerna tried her best to join them; however, she was stricken with shortness of breath and was sent to private quarters on Allen's orders. She protested, but soon gave up and lay down.
"I'm going to see if I can find anymore clean cloth," Celena told her feline-friend. Merle was tending to Kyia, who fell into a state of shock soon after the leviship ascended out of the Fanelian Valley. She continued to mumble incoherently, staring blankly into space. Merle tried to do all she can for her friend, cleaning her scrapes and bruises on her face. She nodded absentmindedly at Celena's proposal and carried through with her rounds.
Regretting that she had to lie to her, Celena walked quickly out of the Crusade's hull. She couldn't stand be in such a grand pack of people. Her head pounded inside her skull, causing a massive headache.
She walked down the hallway towards the bridge. She spotted some of her brother's crew passing her as she neared it. On their voyage to Fanelia, they were ecstatic to get some free time to themselves after living cooped up within Asturia's walls. Now, she saw no spark of life in their eyes, their heads hung low in sadness. That they lost their freedom? she wondered. Or is it because we might be headed into another war?
Allen stood in the windowed viewing area on the bridge, alone and staring outside into the darkness. The sun was peaking over the horizon, threatening the crew with yet another glorious sunrise. Celena thought they were nothing special. It happened the same way, each and every day.
"Brother," she said softly. "You need to get something to eat."
He shook his head negatively. "How are they all doing?" he gestured to the back.
"Some people will need medical attention once we get to Asturia," she sighed. "But they'll be stable for now. Merle and I made sure that they had plenty of water and were comfortable."
She could see anger flaring in Allen's normally kind eyes. He gripped the metal guard bar tightly.
"What's wrong, Allen?" she asked.
"We're going into another war, Celena," he growled under his breath. "I don't know if it will be like the Great War. So many casualties..."
"I don't think it will just be a war," she said aloud. "There's something bigger here, behind all the fighting."
"That's what happened last time, too," he pointed out. Celena was aware of the things when she was in Dilandau's psyche. For the first few months after she had changed back to her own self, she had recurring dreams of blazing fires and an evil laughter echoing the back of her mind. When she had questioned Allen of what they were, he told her of what happened to her during the Great War.
"Dilandau was the one fighting the war, right?" she asked. "And Dornkirk was after the Power of Atlantis?"
Allen nodded. "So if that's what's happening with Zaibach this time, are they still after the same thing? Who's fighting the war..."
"...and who's after the power?" Celena finished. Suddenly, she felt cold. No draft had entered the main cabin. Just a chill projected by her mind. Allen lowered his head and closed his eyes.
"What do you think happened to them," she said, hugging his left arm.
"I don't know," he replied, his voice hushed. "It's not Van that I'm worried about. He can handle it. But Hitomi isn't and..."
"She's not yours to worry about anymore, brother," she said seriously. "It seems to me that she has chosen already."
"True," he said with a smile. "And I can still worry about her. We're friends." He paused. "I just hope she chose right."
Me too, Celena thought. She leaned her head on to her brother's shoulder sleepily and watched the deep gold sun rise slowly to greet the day.
* * *
"Hitomi? Hitomi!" Van whispered in a hurried voice. "We're not safe here. Wake up!"
She didn't stir.
How was it that Millerna showed me to revive her? he thought. In Chid's prison. He removed his worn leather riding gloves and tossed them onto the deserted beach. Placing his bare hands centered onto her chest, he began pumping in time with his own heartbeat. Blood seeped thoroughly through her clothes and stained his palms red.
He tried starting her heart in this fashion for several minutes, occasionally checking her wrist for a pulse. Nothing.
"Damn it, wake up!" he shouted, tears freely falling from his eyes. "I just got you back. You can't leave so soon!"
Nothing.
He collapsed and lay next to her serene body, his wings covering her blood-soiled chest. He brushed loose locks of hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear.
"I'm not giving up on you, Hitomi," he whispered.
do you love this girl, van?
Van quickly rose to his knees to look around. No one was on this beach. Whose voice was that? he wondered.
we don't have much time, little one... do you love this girl?
He still scanned for someone hiding behind a rock. "I love her more than anything," he said, unsure that the voice could hear him. "I would gladly give my own life if it would bring her back."
luckily, that won't be necessary... the voice seemed to chuckle. but you need to bring her to me quickly...
"Can you help her?"
I believe so... take her to the weeping lion... but hurry... your "friends" are approaching...
Not sure what to believe anymore, Van glanced over his shoulder where the floating fortress hung in the sky. Three of the new Guymelefs dropped from the lower base, heading in his direction. He looked at his own, which he had abandoned to save Hitomi. Escaflowne, still in dragon-mode, crashed into the thicket bordering the beach.
that will take too long... use your own wings and fly her through the canyon...
He hoisted Hitomi and held her tightly in his arms. Climbing to a higher elevation, he leapt of a rock and took flight, stretching his wings to their fullest. He gained more altitude; then veered deep into the canyon.
The Guymelefs caught up to his short lead. Bright red flashed by his eye as the head one up to him, following by two black ones. A Leader unit?
"Get 'em, boys!" a familiar voice screeched through its intercom. Has Ashira replaced Dilandau's position as Leader of the Dragonslayers, then?
One Guymelef changed direction and closed in on him. He pulled his wings closer to his side and rolled, diving down to the river below. The unit followed his lead.
If only I can him closer to the canyon walls, his mind raced. He continued to dive, the Guymelef inching closer.
At the last moment, Van pulled out of the dive and beat madly upward. The pilot had no chance of rearing his Melef from the dive. He flew straight into the rock, completely destroying the unit and himself.
Hopefully, that will hold them off, he thought, seeing the fiery wreckage blocking the way of the Leader and other Guymelef. They, too, rose upwards and pursued him from above.
I'm not going to make it, he thought, looking down at Hitomi. He had held her face strongly against his chest, covering all her air passageways. He subconsciously drew her head away, forgetting that he couldn't suffocate her if she wasn't breathing.
He lowered himself once more into the canyon. Up ahead, the two walls narrowed closer, leaving a space that no Melef could pass through. But what about a man?
He rotated so that he now flew sideways and entered the passageway. It seemed to be a perfect fit, until he ran his elbow against the rough rock and cut it open. He winced in pain, but concentrated on landing right in front of the Weeping Lion. Luckily, his plan had worked. The two following Guymelefs now had to fly over the canyon, giving him a little time ahead of them.
He landed on a flat stone, worn smooth the water over the years. The mist from the pounding falls made it more difficult for him to see anything. Even better, it made it difficult for the Melefs to see him.
Gazing above him, he could barely see the outline of the crude lion that sat before him. The underground rivers that produced the falls emerged out of the rock from three points: two eyes and a mouth. The formation made it seem that it was a giant, sleeping lion, weeping from its eyes, hence the name.
do you see the mouth entrance, little one?
He nodded.
fly into the mouth...
He was confused. "How can I fly into the mouth? The water will just spit me out again."
have faith, little one, and trust me...
He sighed, held Hitomi tighter against him, and winged his way to the entrance. The resounding water filled within his mind. How will I be able to get in there? he thought. He grew closer, his wings almost touching the water with each stroke he took.
take a deep breath...
Van had no time to breathe in enough air, only managed a small intake. Some unseen force pulled him into the falling water. He was taken surprise, almost dropping Hitomi as he entered. He felt himself being sucked up into the cascading water, hauled against the current towards the great mouth. The force that grabbed him dragged him into the rocky entrance was amazingly strong and powerful. Who was helping him?
Suddenly, he was able to breathe once more. He found himself, cold and drenched, gasping for air in a small pool of water. The waterfall echoed off the walls in this dark cavern, but remained a dull murmur, no longer clamorous.
A source of faint light led him to an open cavern, almost as large as the once-Great Hall in Fanelia. Excess water covered the floor in a lake only a few inches deep. Other underground springs, much weaker than the Weeping Lion falls, spilled into this lake no more than a dribble.
In the center of this lake sat a small isle, no larger than a tiny bedroom, with a single ancient tree growing from the stony surface. The light that had guided his way touched the tree, giving it a spiritual look about it. Van splashed his way to the island, feeling drained from his flight. His wings, waterlogged and heavy, dragged behind him in the lake.
He scrambled onto the dry land and placed Hitomi against the tree's visible roots. He walked a few feet away from her and shook the water from his hair and wings.
"Hello?!" he cried out into darkness. "Please help us!"
"There is no need to shout, little one," the voice spoke, this time vocally, not telepathically.
Van twisted to see a young woman standing by Hitomi. Tumbling locks of raven black hair with sprigs of ivy and white blossoms tied in spilt in front of her. She wore a forest green cloak with embroidered gold in the sleeves and hem. Her hood remained upon her head, darkening her face so that he could not see her. She lightly stepped to Hitomi and knelt by her side. Van began to protest but she calmly held a hand up to him to cease. Placing her right hand directly onto the open wound, the woman gently stroked her cheek with her other.
"Come, little one," she said softly, a smile forming on her rosy lips. "It is time for you to wake and greet the day."
Van watched in surprise and shock as he saw a twitch in Hitomi's eyes. The woman signaled for him to come to where she lay. He walked over and took her place as she stood. She handed him Hitomi's hand and let him kneel by her.
"Hitomi?" he whispered, daring not to let his eyes wander for fear that it was all just a dream.
She stirred again, letting a soft moan escape from her throat. She opened her drowsy eyes to see his face again.
"Hi," she said.
"Hey," he replied.
Comprehension of what took place outside must have set for her eyes went wide with fear. "No," she gasped. "If you're here with me... that means, you're dead, too?"
He shook his head, calming her down as well. "I am as much alive as you are."
"How is this possible?" she said, struggling to sit up. The woman knelt next to Van and helped push her down into the crook of the tree root. "I am going to explain everything to you, Hitomi," she said in her rustling voice.
Hitomi stared at her. "You are the one that talked to me in my mind all those times."
The woman nodded.
"Who are you?" she asked, still continuing to stare at her darkened face.
She pulled back her hood, revealing a kind, warm face with verdant green eyes that sparkled at her as she smiled.
"I am Gaea," was all she said.
* * *
Dryden Fassa of Asturia sat on his balcony, sipping temperate tea and reading the daily news. Ever since Millerna went to Fanelia to celebrate the King's rebuilding, he had been able to actually sleep in and enjoy his freedom. He loved the woman, but she kept him on his toes. He groaned when he heard the door slam shut, hinting that he had to get back to his Royal duties as King.
"Leviship approaches the Asturian Royal landing pad, My Lord," the informant spoke.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Balan," Dryden said as he stood from his chair. "None of these Royal formalities. And what leviship is it?"
"The Crusade, My... Dryden," Balan corrected himself. "And the Queen is aboard as well." He bowed and left the room.
Dryden downed his tea and tossed aside his paper. Can't finished it now, he thought unhappily.
He jogged down to the landing pad where servants already gathered to collect Millerna's possessions. The large hull gate lowered slowly to the ground. He could still remember clearly where he saw Escaflowne, the Fanelian Royal Guymelef, stored years ago. It was his assistance that helped repair the Melef and save Van's life. Well, his and that Mystic Moon girl, Hitomi. He wondered how she fared back on her home world.
Dryden did not expect to see hundreds of people walking down the ramp, carrying bundles and armloads of food. Some needed aide and medical service, he noted. He saw Millerna, followed by Allen and his crew, walking in his direction.
"You thought the party was so wonderful that you had to bring them all back with you?" he said, trying to lighten the obvious grave situation.
Millerna did not smile. "We need to talk," she said seriously.
* * *
Van knelt before the young woman, eyes faced downwards.
"Van! What are you doing?!" Hitomi cried.
"She is the Goddess of Gaea," he said, speaking to the ground. "She is the Highest Deity that the people worship."
"I thought Fanelians believed in the dragons that protected the valley," she said, confused.
"True, but she's higher than that. Everyone here follows the Goddess."
"Van, please rise to your feet," Gaea said softly. Van did as she commanded. "And I am not the Goddess."
"But you healed me," Hitomi noticed. "If you're not a Goddess, then who are you?"
"As I said before, little one," her gaze shifted from Van to her. "I am Gaea. Many have mistaken me for the Goddess of this world. But I am not." She removed her cloak and wrapped it around Hitomi's shoulders. She wore a simple silver-white gown, thin sleeves falling past her slender fingers. Hitomi noticed a tattoo of a leaping doe imprinted with brown ink upon her palm. It reminded her of many Henna designs she had seen her friends come back with from their trip.
"I don't understand," Van said.
"I will explain everything to you," she replied. "I am from Atlantis, as you are, Van. The name given to me by my father was Gaea. I was the youngest daughter of six children, all born to my mother and father. However, my mother died of an illness when I was still a babe.
"My father was one of the High Priests, a council of men who decided the Atlantean laws for the people to follow. He told me I was his favorite because I reminded him so much of my mother. During my childhood, I contracted the same disease that killed my mother. It's a slow disease that takes years for effect. He tried everything possible to save me, but there was no cure.
"One day, my father came to my bed where I had ridden for months. He told me that there might be a chance that could let me live. Or rather, survive. The Council of High Priests wanted to create a new world, away from all the hatred and greed that the Earth had provided."
She noticed that Hitomi's head perked up when she said 'Earth.' "Yes, Hitomi," she said, smiling. "Not the Mystic Moon. Earth."
She continued with her story. "A sacrifice was needed to create this 'perfect world'. Whoever chose to become the offering would reside as the planet's soul, watching over the children and keeping the peace." She paused. "My father chose me, giving me another chance to live.
"I was placed in the center of the Council's temple. They told me what I needed to ensure as the essence of this new world, which they named simply after me. All the people of Atlantis came to the temple, bringing their pendants of energy with them. I still wore mine around my neck, forgetting it was still there. I watched them staring at me. Each man, woman, and child. I saw them performing the ultimate wish for the new creation. Their faces are still etched in my mind, how hard they concentrated.
"An colossal pink column of light surrounded me, drawing me heavenwards. I could feel being torn and ripped apart from my body and the pressure of the space dust gathered all around. With a great explosion, the dust particles compacted, compressing together to form a small floating orb in the middle of the galaxy.
"The first look I gazed upon was the Earth and Moon in the sky. I could see both of them on this alien world."
She looked at the two sitting against the ancient tree. "Gaea has only been existence for 12,000 years, ever since I left Atlantis, my home. It has remained hidden from the Earth ever since its creation in fear that all the corruption would travel to it. The Gaeans were told to believe that it would be a cursed place, ensuring that they would not wish to be there.
"This land became inhabited by different creatures living peace. I could watch the kind people helping others help and I rewarded them with luscious crops of food and good land. Perhaps that I was revered as the Goddess of Gaea, Van."
"Maybe," he said, thoughtfully. "But what does this have to do with Hitomi? You said you spoke to her, correct?"
Gaea nodded. "Patience, little one. With the destruction of my home by the descendants of the Atlanteans, the Draconians..." she looked in Van's direction as she spoke those words. "...people grew hatred towards those born with the wings of Atlantis. My vow to the High Priests was broken. The peace of Gaea was infected with the things that they tried to flee from.
"As I sat by a lake late one night, I could sense a plea of help. Not coming from this world, but from Earth. A young couple wished for a child because the woman was unable to have one. Their hearts were filled with goodness so I blessed the woman and gave life to the child. To my surprise, the child was born with my eyes, not of her parents. As I watched the life on this planet bloom, I watched the life of the child on Earth blossom as well.
"I also watched one man in particular. He had the desire to prove that Atlantis and its new residence, the Mystic Valley, truly existed. His determination inspired me. I watched his journey..."
A man searching for the Mystic Valley? Hitomi thought. Haven't I heard this somewhere before?
"...I continued to watch the girl on Earth. She walked home from a carnival one night many years ago, unaware of a man following her home to take advantage of her young age. Fearing for her for she took the place of my own daughter, I sent a light to aid her. It was instinct. I had no idea what this light would do, but I sent it anyway. It grabbed her, protecting her from the man. I could sense her fear and curiosity as if I were right there. I pulled her through the Dimensional Gap, the magical shroud that hides Gaea from Earth's eyes. She appeared before the man I had grown fond of. But I soon realized that this girl's influence on him would be and quickly returned her to Earth.
"The man continued his pilgrimage to Atlantis. He finally reached the Valley, but there is nothing there to prove that it was Atlantean. I felt sorry for the man and appeared to him in a vision, giving him my pendant I wore when I lived in Atlantis. The pendant would cause no harm because only someone of Atlantean blood and my own can use it..."
Pendant? Hitomi thought. Is this possible?
"This man's desire to meet the girl once more made me bring her back to Gaea for a moment. He lay, dying in the snow, knowing that the vision of her would be his last. He gave her my pendant and returned to her own world, never to return to Gaea. But now the pendant remained in my family. My daughter had a daughter, and she had a daughter as well.
"My great-granddaughter, I knew, would have great influence on Gaea, even if I had no involvement in it." She looked down upon Hitomi.
Hitomi's hand went instinctively to where her pendant would lay on her chest.
"Yes, little one," she said, smiling. "You are my great-granddaughter."
to be continued...
* * *
Ha ha! I leave yet another cliffhanger! Oooo, and what a good one. Just kidding. This chapter comes from an X-Files comic title that someone gave to me a long time ago. The X-Files is one of the greatest shows ever made. One of my fav sites to go to, Here Be Dragons (but I don't know if its still around), compared X-Files to Esca and I totally agree with it.
Time. 6.55 pm
Music. 80s Club Hits
Chapter 10
Copyright. I don't own the Vision of Escaflowne or any of its characters but I do own all the ones that I created.
Author's Notes. I'm so sorry that's it's taken so long to get this chapter out. It was one of the turning points in RF and this was the first thing I had imagined. But it was so hard to write out! Ay ya! Plus, either something was wrong with my computer or the site, but I had absolutely no way of getting to fanfiction.net. I couldn't read any new updates. Nothing! I hope to get at least three more chapters out before I leave for school. But once I get there, production is probably going to be a lot slower until I get my own computer.
PS. I go to Native American reservations each year and I was given a dream catcher one year for a thank you gift. Attached to the dream catcher was a poem that has influenced this story a lot. So here it is for your enjoyment:
THE DREAM
Dream
Catch a dream
Flowing free and clean
From streams of quiet twilight
Where finite foes like worry and woe
Seem redeemed by unseen sight
Dream the dreamers dream
Learn to live
Love
The Vision of Escaflowne. Rota Fortunae
Chapter 10. A Little Dream of Me
* * *
Silence lumbered over the darkened hull of the Crusade, imprinting a uneasiness over its riders. Some voiced mutterings of how the kingdom was ruled in his day and should be now. Mothers cooed to their weeping babes, trying to calm themselves in doing so. Even the rowdy children, normally deafening when in large groups, sat huddled together in fearful whispers.
Merle and Celena wandered through the masses, aiding anyone who seemed to wounded, but able to be repair. Millerna tried her best to join them; however, she was stricken with shortness of breath and was sent to private quarters on Allen's orders. She protested, but soon gave up and lay down.
"I'm going to see if I can find anymore clean cloth," Celena told her feline-friend. Merle was tending to Kyia, who fell into a state of shock soon after the leviship ascended out of the Fanelian Valley. She continued to mumble incoherently, staring blankly into space. Merle tried to do all she can for her friend, cleaning her scrapes and bruises on her face. She nodded absentmindedly at Celena's proposal and carried through with her rounds.
Regretting that she had to lie to her, Celena walked quickly out of the Crusade's hull. She couldn't stand be in such a grand pack of people. Her head pounded inside her skull, causing a massive headache.
She walked down the hallway towards the bridge. She spotted some of her brother's crew passing her as she neared it. On their voyage to Fanelia, they were ecstatic to get some free time to themselves after living cooped up within Asturia's walls. Now, she saw no spark of life in their eyes, their heads hung low in sadness. That they lost their freedom? she wondered. Or is it because we might be headed into another war?
Allen stood in the windowed viewing area on the bridge, alone and staring outside into the darkness. The sun was peaking over the horizon, threatening the crew with yet another glorious sunrise. Celena thought they were nothing special. It happened the same way, each and every day.
"Brother," she said softly. "You need to get something to eat."
He shook his head negatively. "How are they all doing?" he gestured to the back.
"Some people will need medical attention once we get to Asturia," she sighed. "But they'll be stable for now. Merle and I made sure that they had plenty of water and were comfortable."
She could see anger flaring in Allen's normally kind eyes. He gripped the metal guard bar tightly.
"What's wrong, Allen?" she asked.
"We're going into another war, Celena," he growled under his breath. "I don't know if it will be like the Great War. So many casualties..."
"I don't think it will just be a war," she said aloud. "There's something bigger here, behind all the fighting."
"That's what happened last time, too," he pointed out. Celena was aware of the things when she was in Dilandau's psyche. For the first few months after she had changed back to her own self, she had recurring dreams of blazing fires and an evil laughter echoing the back of her mind. When she had questioned Allen of what they were, he told her of what happened to her during the Great War.
"Dilandau was the one fighting the war, right?" she asked. "And Dornkirk was after the Power of Atlantis?"
Allen nodded. "So if that's what's happening with Zaibach this time, are they still after the same thing? Who's fighting the war..."
"...and who's after the power?" Celena finished. Suddenly, she felt cold. No draft had entered the main cabin. Just a chill projected by her mind. Allen lowered his head and closed his eyes.
"What do you think happened to them," she said, hugging his left arm.
"I don't know," he replied, his voice hushed. "It's not Van that I'm worried about. He can handle it. But Hitomi isn't and..."
"She's not yours to worry about anymore, brother," she said seriously. "It seems to me that she has chosen already."
"True," he said with a smile. "And I can still worry about her. We're friends." He paused. "I just hope she chose right."
Me too, Celena thought. She leaned her head on to her brother's shoulder sleepily and watched the deep gold sun rise slowly to greet the day.
* * *
"Hitomi? Hitomi!" Van whispered in a hurried voice. "We're not safe here. Wake up!"
She didn't stir.
How was it that Millerna showed me to revive her? he thought. In Chid's prison. He removed his worn leather riding gloves and tossed them onto the deserted beach. Placing his bare hands centered onto her chest, he began pumping in time with his own heartbeat. Blood seeped thoroughly through her clothes and stained his palms red.
He tried starting her heart in this fashion for several minutes, occasionally checking her wrist for a pulse. Nothing.
"Damn it, wake up!" he shouted, tears freely falling from his eyes. "I just got you back. You can't leave so soon!"
Nothing.
He collapsed and lay next to her serene body, his wings covering her blood-soiled chest. He brushed loose locks of hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear.
"I'm not giving up on you, Hitomi," he whispered.
do you love this girl, van?
Van quickly rose to his knees to look around. No one was on this beach. Whose voice was that? he wondered.
we don't have much time, little one... do you love this girl?
He still scanned for someone hiding behind a rock. "I love her more than anything," he said, unsure that the voice could hear him. "I would gladly give my own life if it would bring her back."
luckily, that won't be necessary... the voice seemed to chuckle. but you need to bring her to me quickly...
"Can you help her?"
I believe so... take her to the weeping lion... but hurry... your "friends" are approaching...
Not sure what to believe anymore, Van glanced over his shoulder where the floating fortress hung in the sky. Three of the new Guymelefs dropped from the lower base, heading in his direction. He looked at his own, which he had abandoned to save Hitomi. Escaflowne, still in dragon-mode, crashed into the thicket bordering the beach.
that will take too long... use your own wings and fly her through the canyon...
He hoisted Hitomi and held her tightly in his arms. Climbing to a higher elevation, he leapt of a rock and took flight, stretching his wings to their fullest. He gained more altitude; then veered deep into the canyon.
The Guymelefs caught up to his short lead. Bright red flashed by his eye as the head one up to him, following by two black ones. A Leader unit?
"Get 'em, boys!" a familiar voice screeched through its intercom. Has Ashira replaced Dilandau's position as Leader of the Dragonslayers, then?
One Guymelef changed direction and closed in on him. He pulled his wings closer to his side and rolled, diving down to the river below. The unit followed his lead.
If only I can him closer to the canyon walls, his mind raced. He continued to dive, the Guymelef inching closer.
At the last moment, Van pulled out of the dive and beat madly upward. The pilot had no chance of rearing his Melef from the dive. He flew straight into the rock, completely destroying the unit and himself.
Hopefully, that will hold them off, he thought, seeing the fiery wreckage blocking the way of the Leader and other Guymelef. They, too, rose upwards and pursued him from above.
I'm not going to make it, he thought, looking down at Hitomi. He had held her face strongly against his chest, covering all her air passageways. He subconsciously drew her head away, forgetting that he couldn't suffocate her if she wasn't breathing.
He lowered himself once more into the canyon. Up ahead, the two walls narrowed closer, leaving a space that no Melef could pass through. But what about a man?
He rotated so that he now flew sideways and entered the passageway. It seemed to be a perfect fit, until he ran his elbow against the rough rock and cut it open. He winced in pain, but concentrated on landing right in front of the Weeping Lion. Luckily, his plan had worked. The two following Guymelefs now had to fly over the canyon, giving him a little time ahead of them.
He landed on a flat stone, worn smooth the water over the years. The mist from the pounding falls made it more difficult for him to see anything. Even better, it made it difficult for the Melefs to see him.
Gazing above him, he could barely see the outline of the crude lion that sat before him. The underground rivers that produced the falls emerged out of the rock from three points: two eyes and a mouth. The formation made it seem that it was a giant, sleeping lion, weeping from its eyes, hence the name.
do you see the mouth entrance, little one?
He nodded.
fly into the mouth...
He was confused. "How can I fly into the mouth? The water will just spit me out again."
have faith, little one, and trust me...
He sighed, held Hitomi tighter against him, and winged his way to the entrance. The resounding water filled within his mind. How will I be able to get in there? he thought. He grew closer, his wings almost touching the water with each stroke he took.
take a deep breath...
Van had no time to breathe in enough air, only managed a small intake. Some unseen force pulled him into the falling water. He was taken surprise, almost dropping Hitomi as he entered. He felt himself being sucked up into the cascading water, hauled against the current towards the great mouth. The force that grabbed him dragged him into the rocky entrance was amazingly strong and powerful. Who was helping him?
Suddenly, he was able to breathe once more. He found himself, cold and drenched, gasping for air in a small pool of water. The waterfall echoed off the walls in this dark cavern, but remained a dull murmur, no longer clamorous.
A source of faint light led him to an open cavern, almost as large as the once-Great Hall in Fanelia. Excess water covered the floor in a lake only a few inches deep. Other underground springs, much weaker than the Weeping Lion falls, spilled into this lake no more than a dribble.
In the center of this lake sat a small isle, no larger than a tiny bedroom, with a single ancient tree growing from the stony surface. The light that had guided his way touched the tree, giving it a spiritual look about it. Van splashed his way to the island, feeling drained from his flight. His wings, waterlogged and heavy, dragged behind him in the lake.
He scrambled onto the dry land and placed Hitomi against the tree's visible roots. He walked a few feet away from her and shook the water from his hair and wings.
"Hello?!" he cried out into darkness. "Please help us!"
"There is no need to shout, little one," the voice spoke, this time vocally, not telepathically.
Van twisted to see a young woman standing by Hitomi. Tumbling locks of raven black hair with sprigs of ivy and white blossoms tied in spilt in front of her. She wore a forest green cloak with embroidered gold in the sleeves and hem. Her hood remained upon her head, darkening her face so that he could not see her. She lightly stepped to Hitomi and knelt by her side. Van began to protest but she calmly held a hand up to him to cease. Placing her right hand directly onto the open wound, the woman gently stroked her cheek with her other.
"Come, little one," she said softly, a smile forming on her rosy lips. "It is time for you to wake and greet the day."
Van watched in surprise and shock as he saw a twitch in Hitomi's eyes. The woman signaled for him to come to where she lay. He walked over and took her place as she stood. She handed him Hitomi's hand and let him kneel by her.
"Hitomi?" he whispered, daring not to let his eyes wander for fear that it was all just a dream.
She stirred again, letting a soft moan escape from her throat. She opened her drowsy eyes to see his face again.
"Hi," she said.
"Hey," he replied.
Comprehension of what took place outside must have set for her eyes went wide with fear. "No," she gasped. "If you're here with me... that means, you're dead, too?"
He shook his head, calming her down as well. "I am as much alive as you are."
"How is this possible?" she said, struggling to sit up. The woman knelt next to Van and helped push her down into the crook of the tree root. "I am going to explain everything to you, Hitomi," she said in her rustling voice.
Hitomi stared at her. "You are the one that talked to me in my mind all those times."
The woman nodded.
"Who are you?" she asked, still continuing to stare at her darkened face.
She pulled back her hood, revealing a kind, warm face with verdant green eyes that sparkled at her as she smiled.
"I am Gaea," was all she said.
* * *
Dryden Fassa of Asturia sat on his balcony, sipping temperate tea and reading the daily news. Ever since Millerna went to Fanelia to celebrate the King's rebuilding, he had been able to actually sleep in and enjoy his freedom. He loved the woman, but she kept him on his toes. He groaned when he heard the door slam shut, hinting that he had to get back to his Royal duties as King.
"Leviship approaches the Asturian Royal landing pad, My Lord," the informant spoke.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Balan," Dryden said as he stood from his chair. "None of these Royal formalities. And what leviship is it?"
"The Crusade, My... Dryden," Balan corrected himself. "And the Queen is aboard as well." He bowed and left the room.
Dryden downed his tea and tossed aside his paper. Can't finished it now, he thought unhappily.
He jogged down to the landing pad where servants already gathered to collect Millerna's possessions. The large hull gate lowered slowly to the ground. He could still remember clearly where he saw Escaflowne, the Fanelian Royal Guymelef, stored years ago. It was his assistance that helped repair the Melef and save Van's life. Well, his and that Mystic Moon girl, Hitomi. He wondered how she fared back on her home world.
Dryden did not expect to see hundreds of people walking down the ramp, carrying bundles and armloads of food. Some needed aide and medical service, he noted. He saw Millerna, followed by Allen and his crew, walking in his direction.
"You thought the party was so wonderful that you had to bring them all back with you?" he said, trying to lighten the obvious grave situation.
Millerna did not smile. "We need to talk," she said seriously.
* * *
Van knelt before the young woman, eyes faced downwards.
"Van! What are you doing?!" Hitomi cried.
"She is the Goddess of Gaea," he said, speaking to the ground. "She is the Highest Deity that the people worship."
"I thought Fanelians believed in the dragons that protected the valley," she said, confused.
"True, but she's higher than that. Everyone here follows the Goddess."
"Van, please rise to your feet," Gaea said softly. Van did as she commanded. "And I am not the Goddess."
"But you healed me," Hitomi noticed. "If you're not a Goddess, then who are you?"
"As I said before, little one," her gaze shifted from Van to her. "I am Gaea. Many have mistaken me for the Goddess of this world. But I am not." She removed her cloak and wrapped it around Hitomi's shoulders. She wore a simple silver-white gown, thin sleeves falling past her slender fingers. Hitomi noticed a tattoo of a leaping doe imprinted with brown ink upon her palm. It reminded her of many Henna designs she had seen her friends come back with from their trip.
"I don't understand," Van said.
"I will explain everything to you," she replied. "I am from Atlantis, as you are, Van. The name given to me by my father was Gaea. I was the youngest daughter of six children, all born to my mother and father. However, my mother died of an illness when I was still a babe.
"My father was one of the High Priests, a council of men who decided the Atlantean laws for the people to follow. He told me I was his favorite because I reminded him so much of my mother. During my childhood, I contracted the same disease that killed my mother. It's a slow disease that takes years for effect. He tried everything possible to save me, but there was no cure.
"One day, my father came to my bed where I had ridden for months. He told me that there might be a chance that could let me live. Or rather, survive. The Council of High Priests wanted to create a new world, away from all the hatred and greed that the Earth had provided."
She noticed that Hitomi's head perked up when she said 'Earth.' "Yes, Hitomi," she said, smiling. "Not the Mystic Moon. Earth."
She continued with her story. "A sacrifice was needed to create this 'perfect world'. Whoever chose to become the offering would reside as the planet's soul, watching over the children and keeping the peace." She paused. "My father chose me, giving me another chance to live.
"I was placed in the center of the Council's temple. They told me what I needed to ensure as the essence of this new world, which they named simply after me. All the people of Atlantis came to the temple, bringing their pendants of energy with them. I still wore mine around my neck, forgetting it was still there. I watched them staring at me. Each man, woman, and child. I saw them performing the ultimate wish for the new creation. Their faces are still etched in my mind, how hard they concentrated.
"An colossal pink column of light surrounded me, drawing me heavenwards. I could feel being torn and ripped apart from my body and the pressure of the space dust gathered all around. With a great explosion, the dust particles compacted, compressing together to form a small floating orb in the middle of the galaxy.
"The first look I gazed upon was the Earth and Moon in the sky. I could see both of them on this alien world."
She looked at the two sitting against the ancient tree. "Gaea has only been existence for 12,000 years, ever since I left Atlantis, my home. It has remained hidden from the Earth ever since its creation in fear that all the corruption would travel to it. The Gaeans were told to believe that it would be a cursed place, ensuring that they would not wish to be there.
"This land became inhabited by different creatures living peace. I could watch the kind people helping others help and I rewarded them with luscious crops of food and good land. Perhaps that I was revered as the Goddess of Gaea, Van."
"Maybe," he said, thoughtfully. "But what does this have to do with Hitomi? You said you spoke to her, correct?"
Gaea nodded. "Patience, little one. With the destruction of my home by the descendants of the Atlanteans, the Draconians..." she looked in Van's direction as she spoke those words. "...people grew hatred towards those born with the wings of Atlantis. My vow to the High Priests was broken. The peace of Gaea was infected with the things that they tried to flee from.
"As I sat by a lake late one night, I could sense a plea of help. Not coming from this world, but from Earth. A young couple wished for a child because the woman was unable to have one. Their hearts were filled with goodness so I blessed the woman and gave life to the child. To my surprise, the child was born with my eyes, not of her parents. As I watched the life on this planet bloom, I watched the life of the child on Earth blossom as well.
"I also watched one man in particular. He had the desire to prove that Atlantis and its new residence, the Mystic Valley, truly existed. His determination inspired me. I watched his journey..."
A man searching for the Mystic Valley? Hitomi thought. Haven't I heard this somewhere before?
"...I continued to watch the girl on Earth. She walked home from a carnival one night many years ago, unaware of a man following her home to take advantage of her young age. Fearing for her for she took the place of my own daughter, I sent a light to aid her. It was instinct. I had no idea what this light would do, but I sent it anyway. It grabbed her, protecting her from the man. I could sense her fear and curiosity as if I were right there. I pulled her through the Dimensional Gap, the magical shroud that hides Gaea from Earth's eyes. She appeared before the man I had grown fond of. But I soon realized that this girl's influence on him would be and quickly returned her to Earth.
"The man continued his pilgrimage to Atlantis. He finally reached the Valley, but there is nothing there to prove that it was Atlantean. I felt sorry for the man and appeared to him in a vision, giving him my pendant I wore when I lived in Atlantis. The pendant would cause no harm because only someone of Atlantean blood and my own can use it..."
Pendant? Hitomi thought. Is this possible?
"This man's desire to meet the girl once more made me bring her back to Gaea for a moment. He lay, dying in the snow, knowing that the vision of her would be his last. He gave her my pendant and returned to her own world, never to return to Gaea. But now the pendant remained in my family. My daughter had a daughter, and she had a daughter as well.
"My great-granddaughter, I knew, would have great influence on Gaea, even if I had no involvement in it." She looked down upon Hitomi.
Hitomi's hand went instinctively to where her pendant would lay on her chest.
"Yes, little one," she said, smiling. "You are my great-granddaughter."
to be continued...
* * *
Ha ha! I leave yet another cliffhanger! Oooo, and what a good one. Just kidding. This chapter comes from an X-Files comic title that someone gave to me a long time ago. The X-Files is one of the greatest shows ever made. One of my fav sites to go to, Here Be Dragons (but I don't know if its still around), compared X-Files to Esca and I totally agree with it.