Date. 10.13.2001 (happy birthday chris carter!)
Re-edited. 10.18.2001
Time. 2.07 pm
Music. Actually, I'm watching a bunch of anime music videos that I have. Right now, it's silence by delirium and sarah mclaughlin to final fantasy 8.
Chapter 16
Copyright. I don't own the Vision of Escaflowne or any of its original characters. I only own the ones that I created.
Author's Notes. This would have been finished yesterday (Friday), but that was a troubling day. My roomie told me that she was suffering from serious depression and withdrew from the art school. We sat and talked for awhile, and then she left. I truly hope that she gets better. She was such an inspiration to me. I wanted to be a better artist just because of her. So… to my dearest abby… I know you won't read this but I love you so much. And I want you to get better.
And I also wanted to thank Sakura. She wrote me like 5 or 6 times, combing through rota fortunae with a fine tooth… um… comb. I plan on re-reading this after the story is finished and fixing some of the minor mistakes. So, without any ado… here's the next installment!
The Vision of Escaflowne. Rota Fortunae
Chapter 16. Fallen Embers
* * *
The narrow streets of Palas were shrouded in a blanket of wet fog in the early morning hours. The gray mist hung heavily, swallowing the hovels and buildings like a giant wave in the ocean. As the two lone riders walked slowly down these empty streets, dimly lit fire lamps showed the way with a soft glow about the flame. Kind of like fireflies in the night sky, she thought.
Hitomi sat in front of Van, sideways so that her bare feet dangled over the side of the horse. She wrapped her arms around his neck and fell into the crook of his strong forearm. He leaned his head upon hers, kissing her tenderly every now and then. The horse's hooves echoed in the emptiness, making his way back to the palace's stable grounds. Van didn't direct him with the reins; he just knew the route.
She closed her eyes, moved by the rhythmic beat of each step. Clop, clop, clop… She dug her face deeper into his chest, so close that she could feel his heart pound. She smiled and listened closer.
Thump-thump…
She was one day closer to the inevitable…
Thump-thump…
Tomorrow was the Day of Revelation…
Thump-thump…
Tomorrow was her destiny…
Thump-thump…
The courtyard where Van had arrived and picked her up the day before was right along the path leading to the stables. The stallion cut through the decorated area and stopped in front of the large steps. Van swung his leg over the back and helped Hitomi ease down the side. He smacked the horse's rump and sent him along his way.
Hitomi leaned into him, too exhausted to ascend the steps to her room. He caught her under her legs and lifted her into his arms. She felt like an infant, unable to do anything on her own, but she gave no argument about his generosity.
He pushed her door open and walked across the darkened bedroom. Her bed was freshly made with new sheets and blankets on it. He gently lay her on it and helped her under the covers. He kicked off his boots and removed his shirt, throwing it onto the chair he had slept in the previous night. He then joined her in the bed, enveloping her with powerful arms.
"What's on your mind, love?" he whispered into her ear.
She traced a finger on the palm of his hand. "Just… thinking," she replied. "About tomorrow."
He hesitated. "And your family?"
She nodded. "I'll never be able to tell them about me… about us," she said. "I don't want them to worry about me. I want them to know that I'm happy here."
"Is there someway that you can contact them?"
"I don't know," she said, thinking hard as well. "I mean, the only contact I have with Earth is that through the pillar of light. And that's going to be cut off."
"Maybe you can ask Gaea to help you."
"Maybe…"
Van could tell that this was hurting her, not being able to say good-bye to her loved ones. She was truly loyal to her kin. Her brow furrowed in thought.
He kissed her soft neck. "Let's just try and sleep," he said, trying to change the subject. "You need all the energy you can get." He gave her a final kiss, then closed his eyes.
Hitomi closed hers as well, but a single salty tear trickled down the side of her face and settled into her pillow.
* * *
Ashira sat at her command post, tapping her foot impatiently upon the cold metal floor. Her fingers fiddled with her loose strands of golden hair that had fallen from her braid. Eyeing her men, who tried to avert their gaze from her fiery stare, she let out a huff.
"How much longer is this going to take?!" she screamed, leaping from her seat. She grabbed a dagger from one of her leg sheaths and threw it at the wall.
"Temper, temper, Ashira," Sekhmet's cool voice spoke from behind her. "We wouldn't want none of that now, would we?"
"Damn you, Sekhmet!" she shouted at him. "We have less than two days until the Day of Revelation. There is no way that we'll be able to reach Gahwindahn at a rate like this! We still need to get the girl from Asturia."
"Only time will tell, dear Ashira," he replied, his voice deepening.
"Sir!" one of the floating fortress controllers shouted from the cockpit. "The eastern borders of Asturia have been sighted!"
"Activate the stealth cloak at once!" Sekhmet commanded.
"Aye, sir!"
The older man turned round and faced the young woman before him. "See?" he said softly, with a gleam in his eye. "Palas is only a few hours away. We'll get her yet."
"And once we're done with her," Ashira said as her eyes narrowed. "I'll make sure that she dies again by my hand."
* * *
Van had never slept so good in years. Sure, he had always been busy with traveling and rebuilding Fanelia. But even those events could not tire him out and ease him into sleep. Could it have been the magic that Hitomi was working on him? Or was it that he had at last found peace in his heart? In anyway, he welcomed this feeling in full acceptance.
This is how love is, I guess. Finding harmony within. I've never felt this way before.
you idiot… you've never been in love before…
True… I remember Allen saying something about Hitomi years ago. That she put his heart at ease. She has a mysterious touch about her.
I just want to stay here forever… with her.
Knock, knock…
The door resonated with the banging. Van opened a weary eye and looked at it.
"What?" he mumbled.
"I need to speak to you, Fanel!" Allen shouted through the wood. "It's urgent. This can't wait!"
Van sighed and rolled over. Hitomi still slept, a serene look plastered about her face. Good, he thought. The noise didn't wake her. She needs to sleep more.
He placed his feet upon the ground and stood, grabbing his tunic shirt he had tossed that morning when they had returned. Yawning, he opened the door.
"What is it?" he said, trying to muffle another one.
Allen pulled him out and shut the door behind him. "The Zaibach army has surrounded Palas," he whispered harshly.
"What?!" Van pulled his shirt over his head and walked with Allen down the hallway. "When did this happen?"
"They arrived about a half-hour ago," he replied grimly. "Five Guymelefs landed right outside the palace, Ashira being one of them in a red one. They demanded that we hand over Hitomi Kanzaki at that moment or Palas would be destroyed. Dryden negotiated with them and said that we didn't know where she was. They have given us a hour to find her and deliver her to their hands to spare the thousands of innocent souls." He stopped. "And now we have a half hour remaining."
Van clenched his fist, his anger building up inside like a raging fire. "It ends here," he growled.
"What?" Allen asked. "What are you talking about?"
"This. All of this. It has to end."
Allen watched him with a brow raised. "What exactly do you intend to do?"
Van unclasped his hand and looked at it. He hadn't noticed that his fingernails had bore into his flesh and were now bleeding from crescent-shaped wounds.
"I don't know," he replied finally. "I can't let them have Hitomi. She is Gaea's future."
"Van, what the hell is going on?" Dryden shouted, running up from behind, followed closely by Celena and Merle. "Why is Zaibach in my country? Why is Zaibach even around? And why do they want Hitomi?"
Van grew anxious. "It's a long story. I can't explain right now in full detail. Hitomi is the great-granddaughter of the Goddess and has to be at Gahwindahn tomorrow afternoon at all costs."
Merle's eyes grew wide. "Hitomi is a Goddess?" she whispered.
He shook his head. "Not fully," he said. "She has some Atlantean blood in her, though. That's why she has all those visions." He buckled his belt and sword to his waist. "But it is of the utmost importance that she is on that island tomorrow, with or without me. Otherwise, this world will be destroyed by chaos."
He turned to Merle and took her hands. "Can you please do this for me?" he asked softly, staring deeply into her eyes with a faint trace of fear. "You're my best friend. I couldn't rely on anyone else but you because I know I can trust you."
The cat-girl stared into his mahogany eyes, then nodded slowly. "I'll make sure she gets there, Van," she agreed.
"That's why you needed the armed escort?" Dryden asked. "You should have told me. I'll double the number of men to protect her."
"We should leave tomorrow morning at sunrise," Celena said. "Gahwindahn isn't that far away off the Asturian coast. It shouldn't take that long to get there."
She caught the surprised look on Van's face. "What?" she asked spitefully. "I want to be involved, too. I think that I owe you THAT much, don't I?"
Van grinned, giving her a "thank you" glance and ran out of the palace hall, closely followed by Allen.
"Dryden gave me power over the Asturia army," the Knight shouted at Van as he sprinted towards the dragon-mode Escaflowne. "They're already immobilizing and marching towards the valley."
"Good," Van yelled. "If it's a fight that they want, then let's give it to them!"
* * *
An eerie silence hung over the rocky terrain of the mountain valley. This once lush land had been destroyed due to a harsh winter a few years back. Now it remained cold, hard, and gray.
The royal army of Asturia stood on the Western Front, banners posed and waving in the wind. Some of the Guymelefs shifted unsteadily on the loose rumble, not used to such conditions.
Escaflowne stood proudly in front of the others, its metallic chest boasting majestically with confidence as its cape blew with the breeze.
If only its pilot could feel the same way.
Van sat uncomfortably inside, his arms and legs strapped to the mecha's appendages. His eyes scanned the horizons, looking for something that was out of place.
But this whole place doesn't feel right…
"Are you sure this is where they would be?" he asked through the Melef's intercom system.
"Yes, I'm sure," he heard Allen reply. "Do you think this could be a trap?"
"Maybe…" Van closed his eyes and concentrated.
He saw the mental image of the pendant swing in front of his mind's eye.
Concentrate…
He bit his lip, trying harder to picture any hidden objects.
Concentrate…
He had been out of touch with his dowsing capabilities.
Concentrate…
He had to concentrate.
Wait, what was that? He saw something move out of the corner of his eye. He focused harder, seeing more quick glimpses of red flashing behind the swinging pendant.
"They're here!" he shouted to the other Guymelefs.
Too late. A Crima Claw dispersed forth from behind a cloaked Alseides unit, ripping apart the shell of an Asturian Melef. He could hear the screams of the dying man inside, then halting in a ghostly still silence.
Van's image of the invisible enemy clarified intensely at that moment. He could see the entire Zaibach squad, standing in the depths of the valley and on the cliff-side road. There were only about ninety mechas, less than half of the Asturian Guymelef Unit that Dryden had sent with them. Still, they had the hidden ability, which increased their chances of survival.
But he had to do this… for himself… for Gaea… for Hitomi…
He drew his sword and slid down the steep slope to the valley below.
"Van, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Allen snapped at him.
"They're down here!" he shouted. "I can see them all."
"You can see them?"
"Yes!" Van leapt from the slope and jumped over a black Melef. The Alseides moved too slow, unable to block Escaflowne's thrust into its back. Light blue flames licked the cockpit, then melted it into a liquid metal heap.
Another unit withdrew from its invisibility cloak and morphed its Crima Claw into a crude sword. Van pivoted Escaflowne with ease and cut its arm off. He bore his massive sword down the middle, slicing the Melef in half.
Allen watched from above, catching sight of the two kills. He can't do that all by himself, he thought bleakly.
Suddenly, in a rush of cloaks flapping in the wind, the remaining Zaibach soldiers unveiled their invisibility technology, advancing towards the ongoing battle between Escaflowne and an Alseides unit.
"Right flank! Move forward!" he signaled to the others. The Asturian Guymelefs under his lead hesitated, then stepped off the mountainside. He sighed, then leapt off the edge as well, the remaining Melefs following his movement.
* * *
Where am I? Are we still on the cliff? But this is wrong. It shouldn't be daytime. It was twilight. What's going on?
Hitomi stood on the edge of the rocky overhang, near the same location where she and Van had been the previous night. That night, it seemed so beautiful to her, bathed in violets from the dusk. But now, this land was dark, gray, and bloody.
The battle below her raged on, swords clashing through the air and deepening themselves into the bodies of Guymelefs. Many had already fallen to the ground, their chests completely destroyed and ripped open. She spotted a few men running across the earth, holding gaping flesh wounds.
Her eyes scanned for something familiar, something that made her feel comfortable. But she could not see Escaflowne anywhere.
And then, she saw him, caught between a red Guymelef and a black one. She didn't recognize either, but the red one seemed very familiar…
Escaflowne blocked a strike from the black Melef, holding the sword with two giant hands as he held his ground. But he failed to notice as the red one changed its liquid metal claw into a blade and stuck it into the Fanelian Guymelef.
Her heart sunk. As she witnessed it, she could feel that sword pierce her own side. Moving her shaking fingers, she touched where it had entered between her rib cage bones, revealing her bright red blood from the wound. She felt nauseous, her head swelling with dizziness. She sunk to her knees at the same moment that Escaflowne did as well. She felt her heart slow with each beat. No, I can't die again… so many people were counting on her.
With her last ounce of strength, she screamed the only thing that remained on her mind…
"VAN!"
* * *
"VAN!"
She sat up in her bed. Not a bloody battlefield, but a large, luxurious bed. Her hand instantly went to where she felt the Zaibach Guymelef sword enter both her and Escaflowne. Nothing, not even a scratch remaining where it had punctured her.
She sighed, and fell back into the pillows. Daylight streamed in, but not from a morning sun. Time seemed a bit off.
And where was Van? She never realized at what point that he had left her. What was that vision all about? Was it something from the future? Or could it have been something occurring…
…now?
I have to get there, her mind panicked. I can't let that vision come true. She slipped out of the covers, threw the emerald cloak Gaea had given her over her shoulders and raced out the door. She didn't bother lacing up the rest of her corset than Van had undone, letting it expose her bare back.
She almost ran into some young man running down the halls. "Sorry," she muttered as she turned to enter the main corridor. The young man drew his spear and block her.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," he said formally. "But I have strict orders of not letting you leave the grounds until tomorrow morning."
"What?!" she cried. "On whose orders?!"
"Mine," a gruff voice said from behind. Hitomi whirled around sharply to see Dryden, followed closely by Celena and Merle.
"What's the meaning of this, Dryden?" she asked harshly. Her mind flashed wild images from the battle. She had to get there, to save him…
"Van told us about… you," he said softly. "And what you have to do tomorrow. Zaibach entered Asturian territory requesting you. He's out in the valley with a whole militia of my men protecting my country and you."
"I know, I had a vision," she replied. "I have to get out there right away."
"Hitomi, I can't allow that," he commanded. "He wants us to take you to Gahwindahn tomorrow morning, with or without him."
"What is he talking about?" she asked, her heart feeling as if it were made of fragile glass, cracking with each word the he spoke. "He knows I can't be without him."
Dryden approached her and urged her back into the room she just left. "It's for the best," he said. With that, he shut the door and locked it. Hitomi could hear him whispering to the guard and telling him not to let her out of there, no matter what.
She let a frustrated sigh and trudged out to her balcony. She watched people scurry across the courtyard, many packing their things and rushing indoors for protection. Many armed guards helped them into the palace. She saw Gaddes run towards the Crusade, where many members of Allen's crew stood impatiently.
I guess that's my escort to Gahwindahn tomorrow, she decided uneasily.
Her eyes trailed down to the ivy climbing the walls. It had grown around some sort of wooden grid that was connected to the side. Perhaps that could…
She walked over and pulled on the grid. Quite stable, she thought. I have to take the chance that it could hold me.
She swung her leg over and inserted her foot into one of the squares, slowly making her way down the wall.
Perfect, she thought as she reached the bottom. Now all I need is a horse.
Luckily, some of the mounted guard had tied their steeds to a post right by the main entrance. She ducked behind a dapple gray one and quickly untied the reins. Backing the horse out, she put her foot into the stirrup.
"Hitomi!" a feminine voice cried. She sighed as she saw Allen's younger sister rushing down the steps towards the steps.
"I'm sorry, Celena," she said as she swung her leg over the horse's back and mounted. "Van's in trouble and I got to go warn him. There's no stopping me."
"I wasn't coming out here to stop you," the silver-haired girl said. "I promised him that I would be with you, so here I am. And it's my duty to protect the future Queen of Fanelia so I'm not going anywhere."
Hitomi looked at her suspiciously, partially in fear that she found out about her and Van secret engagement. "Get on," she sighed finally.
* * *
"What do you plan on doing?" Celena asked her as the horse galloped the man-made roadway to the valley within the mountains. She clung tightly to Haltom's waist and helped urge their ride to run faster. "I mean, do you think your going to pick up a sword and fight to protect him or something?"
"No," Hitomi replied nervously. "I haven't really planned on anything. But I had that vision and I saw the Escaflowne armor get pierced by a blade. When it entered his body, it entered mine as well. All I know is that if I'm there, something will happen that can change what I saw. Give it a new future."
"Plus, you have to make sure that you're at that island tomorrow," Celena added.
Hitomi stiffened. "He told you guys about it?" she inquired quietly.
She nodded. "He didn't really go into full detail about it," she stated. "But he pretty much hit the main point."
She remained silent for a moment, concentrating on the horse's steady rhythm climbing the mountain. "Well, what do you think?" she asked.
Hitomi looked surprised. "You mean besides the fact that I'm in fear for my life and I'm pressured to save this planet from the brink of chaos?" she asked with a scoffing laugh. "Besides that, I'm just peachy."
"I have faith in you, Hitomi," Celena said. "I believe that you will achieve. I know that Van believes in you, and so does Merle, Millen, Dryden… we all believe in you."
Her words were so familiar to Hitomi's ears. She could remember seven years ago when she said the exact same thing. Her grandmother told her to believe in others with all her heart. Why couldn't she do so with herself?
"Thank… you, Celena," she stumbled. "Maybe that's what I've need to hear for strength."
"My gods…" she heard her whisper. Her attention returned to the destruction in front of her. It mirrored exactly what she saw in her vision; death, gore, bodies and Guymelef wreckage strewn everywhere. Her heart leapt. Where was Van? Had it already come true?
* * *
Gods, it was so hot and stuffy inside of a Guymelef. The space was so confining and tight-fitting within the cockpit.
But it was how Guymelef designers created them. They made it seem as though the pilot and the mecha were one in motion.
Van swung his arm in an upward movement, wounding an Alseides unit's outer arm. He brought the mighty sword for the final blow to the enemy, but another unit blocked him.
It was a red Guymelef.
"Well, well, Van," an eerie voice spoke from inside. "I thought we'd never meet again since I thought I killed you last time." She paused. "Or was that your lover I killed?"
"You bitch," Van hissed at Ashira. "Do you have any idea what will happen if the right person isn't there tomorrow?"
"Umm… yes!" she replied, cackling. "Your Mystic Moon whore just has to be there. But she doesn't necessarily have to be the one that receives the Power of Atlantis." She changed her Crima Claw into a sword. "Come now, Van. Let's dance!"
She drove the hilt into his face mask. He instinctively raised his hands to reflect the blow, only managing to stop it within a fraction of a second. She struck with another thrust towards him, but he was aware of it this time. He knocked her arm away and struck with his own blade.
"Ah… you're good, Van," she said, her voice toying him with strings. "But you're not charging aggressively enough at me. Is it that you don't want to kill me?"
Van growled sharply under his breath. She's just taunting you to intensify your rage, he thought. She wants you to lose it all.
"What?!" he heard Ashira cry. "What's she doing here?!"
He paused for a moment, a moment too long. Ashira had already transformed her Guymelef into flight-mode. Who was she talking about, he wondered. His tired eyes followed the outline of the red mecha as it flew above the battlefield up to mountain road where they had traveled upon to arrive at the valley. There, he spotted two riders on one horse, and his heart jumped into his throat.
Hitomi was here.
He reached to pull the reins that activated the Escaflowne dragon-mode, but was shoved over by two more Guymelefs.
"What?!" he cried as they fell upon him. Their combined weight was crushing the hull of his armor, and he could do nothing but remain there helpless as Ashira approached his love.
* * *
"Hitomi! Run!" Celena shouted as she pointed into the sky. The massive red Guymelef that she had seen in her vision was flying towards their direction.
"No," she said flatly. "No more running. No more hiding. I'm confronting her."
"What?! Are you crazy?! You'll get killed!"
Hitomi turned around and smiled at her. "Maybe," she spoke. "But I'd rather have me die than Van." She dismounted from the horse, removing her cloak and tossing it to Celena, and walked silently towards the Guymelef.
Her gown blew wildly, wrapping around her legs and body. "It's me you want!" she shouted at the red Alseides. "Come out of there and face me!"
With a sharp hiss, the cockpit cracked open. "You're looking mighty well for someone who is supposed to be dead," Ashira muttered. "I didn't know that ghosts existed." She hopped out and placed a hand on her hip. "You must be the infamous Celena Schezar," she called out to the other rider. "Tell your other half that he did some fine work in his day."
"Dilandau is dead," she said, her voice low and serious. "He's not coming back."
Ashira raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Celena, please go back and inform Dryden that they should continue to go to Gahwindahn with or without me tomorrow," Hitomi said, her voice showing no emotion. "I will be there, in one way or another."
"I'm not leaving you with that whore," Celena spat.
Hitomi looked at her, giving her a reassuring look. "Trust me," she said.
"So, what? Are you going to make this easy for me or something?" Ashira let out a huff. "Because we are on a schedule."
"I know," she replied. "First, there's this…"
She grabbed her pendant that still hung from Ashira's neck and pulled it, snapping the fine gold chain.
"…and then, there's this!"
Without giving Ashira a chance to react, Hitomi turned and sprinted, jumping off the edge of the cliff.
The Zaibach girl blinked her eyes. "If you're going to be like *that* then…" she said as she pursued Hitomi.
* * *
hitomi…
Yes, Varie?
why did you leap of the edge?
I had to make sure.
make sure of what?
That I am what I think I am.
ah… you know now, don't you?
I think so. It just took forever to process it and realize that it's true.
it is… i had told my son that there was someone else like him that he was meant for… one who he was going to spend the rest of his life with…
Am I the only one? Or are my mother and brother as well?
their powers come nowhere near to yours… although they are atlantean, they lack the amount of capability that it takes…
So… what do I do? I've never exactly done this before.
it's simple, hitomi… just focus… and release…
* * *
The shear energy of it all raced through her body like an adrenaline. Like a vacuum, it was sucked from all corners and concentrated just between her shoulder blades. As her back tensed with the amount of stress, she flexed…
…and released her wings.
* * *
Celena had dismounted her horse at the exact moment that Hitomi began to run towards the edge. She tried calling her name, but her words got stuck in her throat. She watched in horror as her friend took a giant bound and left the ground.
Ashira had mumbled something as well and followed Hitomi. Celena chased after them both and looked below her.
Her friend free-fell for a few seconds, her arms spread wide. With a burst of feathers, two glowing white wings emerged from her back.
She gasped, holding her breath. "Hitomi… is a Draconian?"
* * *
So this is how it feels to ride the wind! She had often dreamed of it, those nights she felt so alone on Earth when she lost their connection. She would cry herself to sleep and have wonderful dreams of flying with Van. But he never carried her; she always flew under her own power. And she knew how to do it. It seemed so simple to her now.
And now it came true. She now knew where she belonged.
She felt an updraft coming from the valley floor below. She angled her new founded wings and caught the air stream. She flapped to gain altitude, but tried not to strain herself. This was her first flying experience, after all.
Now, she just had to find Van…
"Oh, Hit-toe-mee!" Ashira's singsong voice spoke from above her. Hitomi look up, her eyes wide with fear. The golden blonde-haired girl had unveiled her wings as well and had quickly tracked her. She clutched the pendant in her hand.
"You're not getting away from me this time!" she screamed, her sapphire eyes burning with delight.
What should I do? She cried in her mind. She's knows how to fly much better than I do. She'll get me. I have to get away from her. Away from here. I can't be here anymore. I want to be somewhere that's safe. I want to go home!
With a reaction to her mental wish, the pendant's stone within her hand glowed with a soft light. Hitomi looked down upon it. She could feel the pink energist gemstone's power connect to her, surging through her veins. The glow radiated from her body, engulfing her with its force.
let it flow, hitomi… it will protect you… go find the one you love…
She felt the odd, comforting sensation that she always felt from traveling in the pillar of light. This is the same thing, except *she* was in control of it. She relaxed and merged with this power, letting it overwhelm her body, completely allowing it to consume her.
At once, she could no longer feel the presence of her own body, as though she had de-materialized or something. It reminded her of the out-of-body visions she received often.
If she had a face, she smiled. Now I have to find Van…
* * *
The weight of the two Guymelefs upon him was devastating. He didn't have the strength to move them to the side and arise. And it was driving him mad that Ashira had left their fight to retrieve Hitomi.
What was she doing here? he thought angrily. She was supposed to be well hidden by Dryden. How did she get out?
"Shit! What the hell is that?!" he heard one of the Zaibach pilots say. In their wonderment, their mechas eased off of Escaflowne.
"Go!" he shouted aloud to himself, punching one in the chest and knocking the other one to the side. He quickly rose to his mechanical feet and looked where the cliff was located. But all he could see was the blinding beam of light racing towards him. It looked like the pillar of light that Hitomi travels in, but this one was converging horizontally… at him.
He had no time to move Escaflowne to avoid this phenomenon , only enough to raise his arms and close his eyes.
The light passed right through the metal Guymelef, straight into him. As soon as it touched him, he could feel this essence converting him into the energy, exactly like how it did when he went to the Mystic Moon to rescue Hitomi.
He tried to resist, but something about it made him feel at ease. It almost seemed like… it was… her.
Within a moment, he was apart of the beam, his matter one with it. He was enveloped by sensations of concern, confusion, fear, but most of all, love. He tried to return his own emotions, not sure what to make of everything.
Now where?
* * *
The Alseides unit that Allen was parrying with hesitated suddenly. He took that advantage and sliced it in half, using Scherazade's immense sword. His eyes were drawn to the brilliant light that lit the battlefield. The other Guymelefs paused in mid-fight, gazing at the radiance.
A beam of light was traveling at a tremendous speed straight at Escaflowne. It pierced its hull, but it left no gaping hole. It exited through the back and angled upwards, drawn towards the Mystic Moon. As it left the Guymelef, Escaflowne's energist heart dimmed and fell to its knees, lifeless with lack of pilot.
"Van…" he murmured.
To be continued…
* * *
Aaahh! This has to be my longest chapter by far. Sorry it took so long but there was a ton of stuff that I had to do for my color theory class that was a *bit* more important than this. And there was no good stopping point, either.
I've had whole plunging off the cliff with the wings stuck in my head for forever. It was the first one that I thought up of when I wanted to write it. It didn't come out exactly as I imagined, so I might change it later.
Look for the next chapter within the next 2 weeks or so. I have a lot of work to do. But Rota Fortunae will most likely be finished by winter break. I might have ideas for a sequel. Would anyone read it if I did write one?
Gahwindahn is a name that I got while reading this totally cool book. It was a travel guide to Atlantis when the Disney movie came out. Gahwindahn was the name of some restaurant.
This chapter is from a song by Enya. I always listen to her while I'm trying to sleep.
Re-edited. 10.18.2001
Time. 2.07 pm
Music. Actually, I'm watching a bunch of anime music videos that I have. Right now, it's silence by delirium and sarah mclaughlin to final fantasy 8.
Chapter 16
Copyright. I don't own the Vision of Escaflowne or any of its original characters. I only own the ones that I created.
Author's Notes. This would have been finished yesterday (Friday), but that was a troubling day. My roomie told me that she was suffering from serious depression and withdrew from the art school. We sat and talked for awhile, and then she left. I truly hope that she gets better. She was such an inspiration to me. I wanted to be a better artist just because of her. So… to my dearest abby… I know you won't read this but I love you so much. And I want you to get better.
And I also wanted to thank Sakura. She wrote me like 5 or 6 times, combing through rota fortunae with a fine tooth… um… comb. I plan on re-reading this after the story is finished and fixing some of the minor mistakes. So, without any ado… here's the next installment!
The Vision of Escaflowne. Rota Fortunae
Chapter 16. Fallen Embers
* * *
The narrow streets of Palas were shrouded in a blanket of wet fog in the early morning hours. The gray mist hung heavily, swallowing the hovels and buildings like a giant wave in the ocean. As the two lone riders walked slowly down these empty streets, dimly lit fire lamps showed the way with a soft glow about the flame. Kind of like fireflies in the night sky, she thought.
Hitomi sat in front of Van, sideways so that her bare feet dangled over the side of the horse. She wrapped her arms around his neck and fell into the crook of his strong forearm. He leaned his head upon hers, kissing her tenderly every now and then. The horse's hooves echoed in the emptiness, making his way back to the palace's stable grounds. Van didn't direct him with the reins; he just knew the route.
She closed her eyes, moved by the rhythmic beat of each step. Clop, clop, clop… She dug her face deeper into his chest, so close that she could feel his heart pound. She smiled and listened closer.
Thump-thump…
She was one day closer to the inevitable…
Thump-thump…
Tomorrow was the Day of Revelation…
Thump-thump…
Tomorrow was her destiny…
Thump-thump…
The courtyard where Van had arrived and picked her up the day before was right along the path leading to the stables. The stallion cut through the decorated area and stopped in front of the large steps. Van swung his leg over the back and helped Hitomi ease down the side. He smacked the horse's rump and sent him along his way.
Hitomi leaned into him, too exhausted to ascend the steps to her room. He caught her under her legs and lifted her into his arms. She felt like an infant, unable to do anything on her own, but she gave no argument about his generosity.
He pushed her door open and walked across the darkened bedroom. Her bed was freshly made with new sheets and blankets on it. He gently lay her on it and helped her under the covers. He kicked off his boots and removed his shirt, throwing it onto the chair he had slept in the previous night. He then joined her in the bed, enveloping her with powerful arms.
"What's on your mind, love?" he whispered into her ear.
She traced a finger on the palm of his hand. "Just… thinking," she replied. "About tomorrow."
He hesitated. "And your family?"
She nodded. "I'll never be able to tell them about me… about us," she said. "I don't want them to worry about me. I want them to know that I'm happy here."
"Is there someway that you can contact them?"
"I don't know," she said, thinking hard as well. "I mean, the only contact I have with Earth is that through the pillar of light. And that's going to be cut off."
"Maybe you can ask Gaea to help you."
"Maybe…"
Van could tell that this was hurting her, not being able to say good-bye to her loved ones. She was truly loyal to her kin. Her brow furrowed in thought.
He kissed her soft neck. "Let's just try and sleep," he said, trying to change the subject. "You need all the energy you can get." He gave her a final kiss, then closed his eyes.
Hitomi closed hers as well, but a single salty tear trickled down the side of her face and settled into her pillow.
* * *
Ashira sat at her command post, tapping her foot impatiently upon the cold metal floor. Her fingers fiddled with her loose strands of golden hair that had fallen from her braid. Eyeing her men, who tried to avert their gaze from her fiery stare, she let out a huff.
"How much longer is this going to take?!" she screamed, leaping from her seat. She grabbed a dagger from one of her leg sheaths and threw it at the wall.
"Temper, temper, Ashira," Sekhmet's cool voice spoke from behind her. "We wouldn't want none of that now, would we?"
"Damn you, Sekhmet!" she shouted at him. "We have less than two days until the Day of Revelation. There is no way that we'll be able to reach Gahwindahn at a rate like this! We still need to get the girl from Asturia."
"Only time will tell, dear Ashira," he replied, his voice deepening.
"Sir!" one of the floating fortress controllers shouted from the cockpit. "The eastern borders of Asturia have been sighted!"
"Activate the stealth cloak at once!" Sekhmet commanded.
"Aye, sir!"
The older man turned round and faced the young woman before him. "See?" he said softly, with a gleam in his eye. "Palas is only a few hours away. We'll get her yet."
"And once we're done with her," Ashira said as her eyes narrowed. "I'll make sure that she dies again by my hand."
* * *
Van had never slept so good in years. Sure, he had always been busy with traveling and rebuilding Fanelia. But even those events could not tire him out and ease him into sleep. Could it have been the magic that Hitomi was working on him? Or was it that he had at last found peace in his heart? In anyway, he welcomed this feeling in full acceptance.
This is how love is, I guess. Finding harmony within. I've never felt this way before.
you idiot… you've never been in love before…
True… I remember Allen saying something about Hitomi years ago. That she put his heart at ease. She has a mysterious touch about her.
I just want to stay here forever… with her.
Knock, knock…
The door resonated with the banging. Van opened a weary eye and looked at it.
"What?" he mumbled.
"I need to speak to you, Fanel!" Allen shouted through the wood. "It's urgent. This can't wait!"
Van sighed and rolled over. Hitomi still slept, a serene look plastered about her face. Good, he thought. The noise didn't wake her. She needs to sleep more.
He placed his feet upon the ground and stood, grabbing his tunic shirt he had tossed that morning when they had returned. Yawning, he opened the door.
"What is it?" he said, trying to muffle another one.
Allen pulled him out and shut the door behind him. "The Zaibach army has surrounded Palas," he whispered harshly.
"What?!" Van pulled his shirt over his head and walked with Allen down the hallway. "When did this happen?"
"They arrived about a half-hour ago," he replied grimly. "Five Guymelefs landed right outside the palace, Ashira being one of them in a red one. They demanded that we hand over Hitomi Kanzaki at that moment or Palas would be destroyed. Dryden negotiated with them and said that we didn't know where she was. They have given us a hour to find her and deliver her to their hands to spare the thousands of innocent souls." He stopped. "And now we have a half hour remaining."
Van clenched his fist, his anger building up inside like a raging fire. "It ends here," he growled.
"What?" Allen asked. "What are you talking about?"
"This. All of this. It has to end."
Allen watched him with a brow raised. "What exactly do you intend to do?"
Van unclasped his hand and looked at it. He hadn't noticed that his fingernails had bore into his flesh and were now bleeding from crescent-shaped wounds.
"I don't know," he replied finally. "I can't let them have Hitomi. She is Gaea's future."
"Van, what the hell is going on?" Dryden shouted, running up from behind, followed closely by Celena and Merle. "Why is Zaibach in my country? Why is Zaibach even around? And why do they want Hitomi?"
Van grew anxious. "It's a long story. I can't explain right now in full detail. Hitomi is the great-granddaughter of the Goddess and has to be at Gahwindahn tomorrow afternoon at all costs."
Merle's eyes grew wide. "Hitomi is a Goddess?" she whispered.
He shook his head. "Not fully," he said. "She has some Atlantean blood in her, though. That's why she has all those visions." He buckled his belt and sword to his waist. "But it is of the utmost importance that she is on that island tomorrow, with or without me. Otherwise, this world will be destroyed by chaos."
He turned to Merle and took her hands. "Can you please do this for me?" he asked softly, staring deeply into her eyes with a faint trace of fear. "You're my best friend. I couldn't rely on anyone else but you because I know I can trust you."
The cat-girl stared into his mahogany eyes, then nodded slowly. "I'll make sure she gets there, Van," she agreed.
"That's why you needed the armed escort?" Dryden asked. "You should have told me. I'll double the number of men to protect her."
"We should leave tomorrow morning at sunrise," Celena said. "Gahwindahn isn't that far away off the Asturian coast. It shouldn't take that long to get there."
She caught the surprised look on Van's face. "What?" she asked spitefully. "I want to be involved, too. I think that I owe you THAT much, don't I?"
Van grinned, giving her a "thank you" glance and ran out of the palace hall, closely followed by Allen.
"Dryden gave me power over the Asturia army," the Knight shouted at Van as he sprinted towards the dragon-mode Escaflowne. "They're already immobilizing and marching towards the valley."
"Good," Van yelled. "If it's a fight that they want, then let's give it to them!"
* * *
An eerie silence hung over the rocky terrain of the mountain valley. This once lush land had been destroyed due to a harsh winter a few years back. Now it remained cold, hard, and gray.
The royal army of Asturia stood on the Western Front, banners posed and waving in the wind. Some of the Guymelefs shifted unsteadily on the loose rumble, not used to such conditions.
Escaflowne stood proudly in front of the others, its metallic chest boasting majestically with confidence as its cape blew with the breeze.
If only its pilot could feel the same way.
Van sat uncomfortably inside, his arms and legs strapped to the mecha's appendages. His eyes scanned the horizons, looking for something that was out of place.
But this whole place doesn't feel right…
"Are you sure this is where they would be?" he asked through the Melef's intercom system.
"Yes, I'm sure," he heard Allen reply. "Do you think this could be a trap?"
"Maybe…" Van closed his eyes and concentrated.
He saw the mental image of the pendant swing in front of his mind's eye.
Concentrate…
He bit his lip, trying harder to picture any hidden objects.
Concentrate…
He had been out of touch with his dowsing capabilities.
Concentrate…
He had to concentrate.
Wait, what was that? He saw something move out of the corner of his eye. He focused harder, seeing more quick glimpses of red flashing behind the swinging pendant.
"They're here!" he shouted to the other Guymelefs.
Too late. A Crima Claw dispersed forth from behind a cloaked Alseides unit, ripping apart the shell of an Asturian Melef. He could hear the screams of the dying man inside, then halting in a ghostly still silence.
Van's image of the invisible enemy clarified intensely at that moment. He could see the entire Zaibach squad, standing in the depths of the valley and on the cliff-side road. There were only about ninety mechas, less than half of the Asturian Guymelef Unit that Dryden had sent with them. Still, they had the hidden ability, which increased their chances of survival.
But he had to do this… for himself… for Gaea… for Hitomi…
He drew his sword and slid down the steep slope to the valley below.
"Van, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Allen snapped at him.
"They're down here!" he shouted. "I can see them all."
"You can see them?"
"Yes!" Van leapt from the slope and jumped over a black Melef. The Alseides moved too slow, unable to block Escaflowne's thrust into its back. Light blue flames licked the cockpit, then melted it into a liquid metal heap.
Another unit withdrew from its invisibility cloak and morphed its Crima Claw into a crude sword. Van pivoted Escaflowne with ease and cut its arm off. He bore his massive sword down the middle, slicing the Melef in half.
Allen watched from above, catching sight of the two kills. He can't do that all by himself, he thought bleakly.
Suddenly, in a rush of cloaks flapping in the wind, the remaining Zaibach soldiers unveiled their invisibility technology, advancing towards the ongoing battle between Escaflowne and an Alseides unit.
"Right flank! Move forward!" he signaled to the others. The Asturian Guymelefs under his lead hesitated, then stepped off the mountainside. He sighed, then leapt off the edge as well, the remaining Melefs following his movement.
* * *
Where am I? Are we still on the cliff? But this is wrong. It shouldn't be daytime. It was twilight. What's going on?
Hitomi stood on the edge of the rocky overhang, near the same location where she and Van had been the previous night. That night, it seemed so beautiful to her, bathed in violets from the dusk. But now, this land was dark, gray, and bloody.
The battle below her raged on, swords clashing through the air and deepening themselves into the bodies of Guymelefs. Many had already fallen to the ground, their chests completely destroyed and ripped open. She spotted a few men running across the earth, holding gaping flesh wounds.
Her eyes scanned for something familiar, something that made her feel comfortable. But she could not see Escaflowne anywhere.
And then, she saw him, caught between a red Guymelef and a black one. She didn't recognize either, but the red one seemed very familiar…
Escaflowne blocked a strike from the black Melef, holding the sword with two giant hands as he held his ground. But he failed to notice as the red one changed its liquid metal claw into a blade and stuck it into the Fanelian Guymelef.
Her heart sunk. As she witnessed it, she could feel that sword pierce her own side. Moving her shaking fingers, she touched where it had entered between her rib cage bones, revealing her bright red blood from the wound. She felt nauseous, her head swelling with dizziness. She sunk to her knees at the same moment that Escaflowne did as well. She felt her heart slow with each beat. No, I can't die again… so many people were counting on her.
With her last ounce of strength, she screamed the only thing that remained on her mind…
"VAN!"
* * *
"VAN!"
She sat up in her bed. Not a bloody battlefield, but a large, luxurious bed. Her hand instantly went to where she felt the Zaibach Guymelef sword enter both her and Escaflowne. Nothing, not even a scratch remaining where it had punctured her.
She sighed, and fell back into the pillows. Daylight streamed in, but not from a morning sun. Time seemed a bit off.
And where was Van? She never realized at what point that he had left her. What was that vision all about? Was it something from the future? Or could it have been something occurring…
…now?
I have to get there, her mind panicked. I can't let that vision come true. She slipped out of the covers, threw the emerald cloak Gaea had given her over her shoulders and raced out the door. She didn't bother lacing up the rest of her corset than Van had undone, letting it expose her bare back.
She almost ran into some young man running down the halls. "Sorry," she muttered as she turned to enter the main corridor. The young man drew his spear and block her.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," he said formally. "But I have strict orders of not letting you leave the grounds until tomorrow morning."
"What?!" she cried. "On whose orders?!"
"Mine," a gruff voice said from behind. Hitomi whirled around sharply to see Dryden, followed closely by Celena and Merle.
"What's the meaning of this, Dryden?" she asked harshly. Her mind flashed wild images from the battle. She had to get there, to save him…
"Van told us about… you," he said softly. "And what you have to do tomorrow. Zaibach entered Asturian territory requesting you. He's out in the valley with a whole militia of my men protecting my country and you."
"I know, I had a vision," she replied. "I have to get out there right away."
"Hitomi, I can't allow that," he commanded. "He wants us to take you to Gahwindahn tomorrow morning, with or without him."
"What is he talking about?" she asked, her heart feeling as if it were made of fragile glass, cracking with each word the he spoke. "He knows I can't be without him."
Dryden approached her and urged her back into the room she just left. "It's for the best," he said. With that, he shut the door and locked it. Hitomi could hear him whispering to the guard and telling him not to let her out of there, no matter what.
She let a frustrated sigh and trudged out to her balcony. She watched people scurry across the courtyard, many packing their things and rushing indoors for protection. Many armed guards helped them into the palace. She saw Gaddes run towards the Crusade, where many members of Allen's crew stood impatiently.
I guess that's my escort to Gahwindahn tomorrow, she decided uneasily.
Her eyes trailed down to the ivy climbing the walls. It had grown around some sort of wooden grid that was connected to the side. Perhaps that could…
She walked over and pulled on the grid. Quite stable, she thought. I have to take the chance that it could hold me.
She swung her leg over and inserted her foot into one of the squares, slowly making her way down the wall.
Perfect, she thought as she reached the bottom. Now all I need is a horse.
Luckily, some of the mounted guard had tied their steeds to a post right by the main entrance. She ducked behind a dapple gray one and quickly untied the reins. Backing the horse out, she put her foot into the stirrup.
"Hitomi!" a feminine voice cried. She sighed as she saw Allen's younger sister rushing down the steps towards the steps.
"I'm sorry, Celena," she said as she swung her leg over the horse's back and mounted. "Van's in trouble and I got to go warn him. There's no stopping me."
"I wasn't coming out here to stop you," the silver-haired girl said. "I promised him that I would be with you, so here I am. And it's my duty to protect the future Queen of Fanelia so I'm not going anywhere."
Hitomi looked at her suspiciously, partially in fear that she found out about her and Van secret engagement. "Get on," she sighed finally.
* * *
"What do you plan on doing?" Celena asked her as the horse galloped the man-made roadway to the valley within the mountains. She clung tightly to Haltom's waist and helped urge their ride to run faster. "I mean, do you think your going to pick up a sword and fight to protect him or something?"
"No," Hitomi replied nervously. "I haven't really planned on anything. But I had that vision and I saw the Escaflowne armor get pierced by a blade. When it entered his body, it entered mine as well. All I know is that if I'm there, something will happen that can change what I saw. Give it a new future."
"Plus, you have to make sure that you're at that island tomorrow," Celena added.
Hitomi stiffened. "He told you guys about it?" she inquired quietly.
She nodded. "He didn't really go into full detail about it," she stated. "But he pretty much hit the main point."
She remained silent for a moment, concentrating on the horse's steady rhythm climbing the mountain. "Well, what do you think?" she asked.
Hitomi looked surprised. "You mean besides the fact that I'm in fear for my life and I'm pressured to save this planet from the brink of chaos?" she asked with a scoffing laugh. "Besides that, I'm just peachy."
"I have faith in you, Hitomi," Celena said. "I believe that you will achieve. I know that Van believes in you, and so does Merle, Millen, Dryden… we all believe in you."
Her words were so familiar to Hitomi's ears. She could remember seven years ago when she said the exact same thing. Her grandmother told her to believe in others with all her heart. Why couldn't she do so with herself?
"Thank… you, Celena," she stumbled. "Maybe that's what I've need to hear for strength."
"My gods…" she heard her whisper. Her attention returned to the destruction in front of her. It mirrored exactly what she saw in her vision; death, gore, bodies and Guymelef wreckage strewn everywhere. Her heart leapt. Where was Van? Had it already come true?
* * *
Gods, it was so hot and stuffy inside of a Guymelef. The space was so confining and tight-fitting within the cockpit.
But it was how Guymelef designers created them. They made it seem as though the pilot and the mecha were one in motion.
Van swung his arm in an upward movement, wounding an Alseides unit's outer arm. He brought the mighty sword for the final blow to the enemy, but another unit blocked him.
It was a red Guymelef.
"Well, well, Van," an eerie voice spoke from inside. "I thought we'd never meet again since I thought I killed you last time." She paused. "Or was that your lover I killed?"
"You bitch," Van hissed at Ashira. "Do you have any idea what will happen if the right person isn't there tomorrow?"
"Umm… yes!" she replied, cackling. "Your Mystic Moon whore just has to be there. But she doesn't necessarily have to be the one that receives the Power of Atlantis." She changed her Crima Claw into a sword. "Come now, Van. Let's dance!"
She drove the hilt into his face mask. He instinctively raised his hands to reflect the blow, only managing to stop it within a fraction of a second. She struck with another thrust towards him, but he was aware of it this time. He knocked her arm away and struck with his own blade.
"Ah… you're good, Van," she said, her voice toying him with strings. "But you're not charging aggressively enough at me. Is it that you don't want to kill me?"
Van growled sharply under his breath. She's just taunting you to intensify your rage, he thought. She wants you to lose it all.
"What?!" he heard Ashira cry. "What's she doing here?!"
He paused for a moment, a moment too long. Ashira had already transformed her Guymelef into flight-mode. Who was she talking about, he wondered. His tired eyes followed the outline of the red mecha as it flew above the battlefield up to mountain road where they had traveled upon to arrive at the valley. There, he spotted two riders on one horse, and his heart jumped into his throat.
Hitomi was here.
He reached to pull the reins that activated the Escaflowne dragon-mode, but was shoved over by two more Guymelefs.
"What?!" he cried as they fell upon him. Their combined weight was crushing the hull of his armor, and he could do nothing but remain there helpless as Ashira approached his love.
* * *
"Hitomi! Run!" Celena shouted as she pointed into the sky. The massive red Guymelef that she had seen in her vision was flying towards their direction.
"No," she said flatly. "No more running. No more hiding. I'm confronting her."
"What?! Are you crazy?! You'll get killed!"
Hitomi turned around and smiled at her. "Maybe," she spoke. "But I'd rather have me die than Van." She dismounted from the horse, removing her cloak and tossing it to Celena, and walked silently towards the Guymelef.
Her gown blew wildly, wrapping around her legs and body. "It's me you want!" she shouted at the red Alseides. "Come out of there and face me!"
With a sharp hiss, the cockpit cracked open. "You're looking mighty well for someone who is supposed to be dead," Ashira muttered. "I didn't know that ghosts existed." She hopped out and placed a hand on her hip. "You must be the infamous Celena Schezar," she called out to the other rider. "Tell your other half that he did some fine work in his day."
"Dilandau is dead," she said, her voice low and serious. "He's not coming back."
Ashira raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Celena, please go back and inform Dryden that they should continue to go to Gahwindahn with or without me tomorrow," Hitomi said, her voice showing no emotion. "I will be there, in one way or another."
"I'm not leaving you with that whore," Celena spat.
Hitomi looked at her, giving her a reassuring look. "Trust me," she said.
"So, what? Are you going to make this easy for me or something?" Ashira let out a huff. "Because we are on a schedule."
"I know," she replied. "First, there's this…"
She grabbed her pendant that still hung from Ashira's neck and pulled it, snapping the fine gold chain.
"…and then, there's this!"
Without giving Ashira a chance to react, Hitomi turned and sprinted, jumping off the edge of the cliff.
The Zaibach girl blinked her eyes. "If you're going to be like *that* then…" she said as she pursued Hitomi.
* * *
hitomi…
Yes, Varie?
why did you leap of the edge?
I had to make sure.
make sure of what?
That I am what I think I am.
ah… you know now, don't you?
I think so. It just took forever to process it and realize that it's true.
it is… i had told my son that there was someone else like him that he was meant for… one who he was going to spend the rest of his life with…
Am I the only one? Or are my mother and brother as well?
their powers come nowhere near to yours… although they are atlantean, they lack the amount of capability that it takes…
So… what do I do? I've never exactly done this before.
it's simple, hitomi… just focus… and release…
* * *
The shear energy of it all raced through her body like an adrenaline. Like a vacuum, it was sucked from all corners and concentrated just between her shoulder blades. As her back tensed with the amount of stress, she flexed…
…and released her wings.
* * *
Celena had dismounted her horse at the exact moment that Hitomi began to run towards the edge. She tried calling her name, but her words got stuck in her throat. She watched in horror as her friend took a giant bound and left the ground.
Ashira had mumbled something as well and followed Hitomi. Celena chased after them both and looked below her.
Her friend free-fell for a few seconds, her arms spread wide. With a burst of feathers, two glowing white wings emerged from her back.
She gasped, holding her breath. "Hitomi… is a Draconian?"
* * *
So this is how it feels to ride the wind! She had often dreamed of it, those nights she felt so alone on Earth when she lost their connection. She would cry herself to sleep and have wonderful dreams of flying with Van. But he never carried her; she always flew under her own power. And she knew how to do it. It seemed so simple to her now.
And now it came true. She now knew where she belonged.
She felt an updraft coming from the valley floor below. She angled her new founded wings and caught the air stream. She flapped to gain altitude, but tried not to strain herself. This was her first flying experience, after all.
Now, she just had to find Van…
"Oh, Hit-toe-mee!" Ashira's singsong voice spoke from above her. Hitomi look up, her eyes wide with fear. The golden blonde-haired girl had unveiled her wings as well and had quickly tracked her. She clutched the pendant in her hand.
"You're not getting away from me this time!" she screamed, her sapphire eyes burning with delight.
What should I do? She cried in her mind. She's knows how to fly much better than I do. She'll get me. I have to get away from her. Away from here. I can't be here anymore. I want to be somewhere that's safe. I want to go home!
With a reaction to her mental wish, the pendant's stone within her hand glowed with a soft light. Hitomi looked down upon it. She could feel the pink energist gemstone's power connect to her, surging through her veins. The glow radiated from her body, engulfing her with its force.
let it flow, hitomi… it will protect you… go find the one you love…
She felt the odd, comforting sensation that she always felt from traveling in the pillar of light. This is the same thing, except *she* was in control of it. She relaxed and merged with this power, letting it overwhelm her body, completely allowing it to consume her.
At once, she could no longer feel the presence of her own body, as though she had de-materialized or something. It reminded her of the out-of-body visions she received often.
If she had a face, she smiled. Now I have to find Van…
* * *
The weight of the two Guymelefs upon him was devastating. He didn't have the strength to move them to the side and arise. And it was driving him mad that Ashira had left their fight to retrieve Hitomi.
What was she doing here? he thought angrily. She was supposed to be well hidden by Dryden. How did she get out?
"Shit! What the hell is that?!" he heard one of the Zaibach pilots say. In their wonderment, their mechas eased off of Escaflowne.
"Go!" he shouted aloud to himself, punching one in the chest and knocking the other one to the side. He quickly rose to his mechanical feet and looked where the cliff was located. But all he could see was the blinding beam of light racing towards him. It looked like the pillar of light that Hitomi travels in, but this one was converging horizontally… at him.
He had no time to move Escaflowne to avoid this phenomenon , only enough to raise his arms and close his eyes.
The light passed right through the metal Guymelef, straight into him. As soon as it touched him, he could feel this essence converting him into the energy, exactly like how it did when he went to the Mystic Moon to rescue Hitomi.
He tried to resist, but something about it made him feel at ease. It almost seemed like… it was… her.
Within a moment, he was apart of the beam, his matter one with it. He was enveloped by sensations of concern, confusion, fear, but most of all, love. He tried to return his own emotions, not sure what to make of everything.
Now where?
* * *
The Alseides unit that Allen was parrying with hesitated suddenly. He took that advantage and sliced it in half, using Scherazade's immense sword. His eyes were drawn to the brilliant light that lit the battlefield. The other Guymelefs paused in mid-fight, gazing at the radiance.
A beam of light was traveling at a tremendous speed straight at Escaflowne. It pierced its hull, but it left no gaping hole. It exited through the back and angled upwards, drawn towards the Mystic Moon. As it left the Guymelef, Escaflowne's energist heart dimmed and fell to its knees, lifeless with lack of pilot.
"Van…" he murmured.
To be continued…
* * *
Aaahh! This has to be my longest chapter by far. Sorry it took so long but there was a ton of stuff that I had to do for my color theory class that was a *bit* more important than this. And there was no good stopping point, either.
I've had whole plunging off the cliff with the wings stuck in my head for forever. It was the first one that I thought up of when I wanted to write it. It didn't come out exactly as I imagined, so I might change it later.
Look for the next chapter within the next 2 weeks or so. I have a lot of work to do. But Rota Fortunae will most likely be finished by winter break. I might have ideas for a sequel. Would anyone read it if I did write one?
Gahwindahn is a name that I got while reading this totally cool book. It was a travel guide to Atlantis when the Disney movie came out. Gahwindahn was the name of some restaurant.
This chapter is from a song by Enya. I always listen to her while I'm trying to sleep.