Stunned was the only word that could used to describe how Folken left Kim.
"Wow, what carefree attitudes he posses. Man If only I could speed up the future and have him say he's a stupid idiot." She grumbled.
When he returned from Freid with the sword, she took one look at it and promptly was sucked into a vision.
It was exactly like Hitomi's. She saw how Atlantis had destroyed itself.
"Man didn't anyone ever tell Dornkirk that history has an awful habit of repeating itself?" She groaned when she regained consciousness.
Folken's brow furrowed, but he said nothing of it. Instead he brought up an idea which made her shiver.
"I think it is time you learned to pilot a guymelef." He said. Her eyes filled with tears remembering how he had mourned the loss of Nariya and Ariya.
"Of...of course." She shivered, hoping hers wouldn't be the same fate of theirs. "But you're not putting any of that crap into my blood, got it?" she warned, her eyes taking on a glint of hostility.
He held up his hands in surrender and nodded. He walked her into the hangar, and showed her the guymelef he had created for her.
It was silver, and something that Kim knew would make Holly seethe with jealousy. There was long flowing hair on top, just like the gold and silver twins' guymelefs.
"Get acquainted, I will find someone to teach you tomorrow." He said in that spine melting voice.
"You won't have to....." she whispered falling to her knees with yet another vision.
After Viole had successfully trained her in the use of the Mecha, Van showed up, and promptly slaughtered all the dragon slayers. Shaking herself awake, she screamed in Japanese.
"SHINDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" the voice echoed off the walls and frightened Folken, the pillar of strength.
"Stop him Holly, you've just got to......" she whispered to her friend
*****
"Van!" Holly screamed. "Van, wait..."
Van heard her voice but he did not understand the words. Wait? How could he, when here were the murderers of Fanelia! The ones who had caused so much pain...
"Van, listen to me! If you do this you will be just like them, just like them! You'll be sinking to their level and slaughtering them! It will only cause grief..." She started to cry. Always in the hearts of mankind was the will to fight, and to kill...Thinking that would bring peace..."All that war is is senseless killing!" Funny how she only realized it when she saw a real war...She had thought the fighting to be so wonderful until now, when she could smell the blood for herself and knew that the Dragon Slayers were really going to DIE. "Senseless fighting..." It was no use. She could not stop what was meant to be...
What if it was not meant to be? Holly, you failed. You failed when everyone needed you.
Van was drawn into the spirit world...and she ran to Escaflowne and went with him.
Sorry Kim. I may not be coming back...no Merle to scream at me...
*****
"Poor Dilandau, poor dragon slayers, poor Holly, poor Van...." She sighed, naming everyone who had had bad things happen to them.
"Why do you feel sorrow for all o them but not yourself?" Folken asked quietly.
"Self pity is the road to destruction." She repeated the words that she had heard recently. "You'll be sad to know that your army has just lost its elite dragon slaying sector."
"You said it without any feeling in your voice. We must get you away from here before you become me."
"Well that's kinda silly, since I know how to use a guymelef and all..." she said, hiding her surprise at his care for her sanity.
Folken just shook his head at her passivity. 'Such a strange one...' he thought. 'But she makes the days here a little more tolerable.'
Dilandau burst into the room, screaming.
Kim's head jerked up and she expected the imminent break down of Dilandau/Celena. But it never came. There was no screaming for Jajuka, nor any switching of the Garnet eyes for blue ones.
She shrugged it off as simply another twist in their new plot, but something in her mind protested. 'It's not what you think. Something big is different. Something is astronomically screwed from the show.'
"Kim...it's time for you to rest. Tomorrow you and Dilandau will seek revenge upon the people of Asturia for what Van has done."
She shivered at the cruelty in his voice.
She fell into the vision in the nick of time. Van wouldn't open his wings, he wouldn't fly. "FLY you fools!!!!! Get out of here!!!! You shouldn't be in this place anyways Holly. The craziness of the visions. I have more respect for Kanzaki now. GET OUT!!!" She screamed and shoved Van before she resurfaced from the vision.
"Oh god I hope they make it...."
******
Holly snapped out of her depression.
Kim is yelling at me...Blast her, anyway...
I have to help Van get out of here...
"Van please...please I don't want to die here...not now...not without.." she couldn't say it. "Van, wake up blast you! You bloody moron! I...I...WAKE UP NOW!"
He could hear the care in her voice and he looked up. "Holly..." He picked her up and flew.
They exited the spirit world, together. Together.
Oh, Van...I never thought I would feel this way about anyone...and I know that I will have to leave you, just like everything else in my life...everything else always goes wrong...why why why! I promised myself I would never feel again! Not like this...
Holly fell from the Escaflowne to the ground.
Milerna and Dryden were there amazed that she was still alive.
"I'll be okay," she said, but she didn't believe it in the least.
Thank you, Kim.
It was time to return to Asturia.
*****
Kim walked into Folken's lab when he had sent someone to come and find her.
"I need your help. I need you to be my partner. We must distance the dragon and the girl."
"Her name is Holly...." She said breathlessly. She had grabbed the railing for support on the bridge.
"Will you help me?" he asked looking into her eyes.
"Yes." She sighed blushing intently.
"Clear your mind of worldly thoughts, and think only of me." he said quietly.
"Oh, Allen..." She whispered.
"Holly..." And then his lips came crashing down upon hers. She held her strength until the last moment, and when they parted she passed out on the floor.
Folken scooped her up into his arms. He loved carrying her around. 'Such a weird thing to gain happiness from..' he thought, and placed her in her bed, planting a small kiss on her lips before he left.
"They're sweet like honey..." he murmured.
*****
Holly was wandering around and she saw Van.
"Holly...You look so sad. If you go around with that look on your face, bad things will happen."
Holly smiled a little.
Van gave her some Piscus to drink and they sat with the guymelefs.
"Holly...you have such a strange power...to set things on fire."
"I know that. I don't know what it is, Van."
Van sighed. "Holly, I want you...I want your power!"
That stung. He only wants my power. That's all. I'm not good enough for him, I'm not good enough for anyone and I never will be!
She ran from the room crying, straight into Allen on the bridge. Allen looked so...hot.
"Allen..." Allen leaned forward...and he kissed her.
No I can't do this...I am not in love with Allen!
Holly pulled away. "No! You don't love me you only think you do!" Holly saw Van. "No Van wait! Please come back!" He looked so sad.... "Van I love you..." but he was gone.
*****
Holly watched the wedding of Dryden and Milerna feeling somewhat detached from everything. Van was avoiding her now, and that really hurt.
Maybe he didn't hear me? Or he did and he just doesn't care that I love him...love him so much I could just die...it's strangling me...
Milerna, you'll be happy with Dryden, you'll see. Allen doesn't love you. He loved your sister, and you are so like your sister that he thought...
It doesn't matter. Just be happy with Dryden. You deserve happiness...Everyone deserves happines...So where is mine? *****
Kim walked into Folken's lab looking like crap. Her hair was a mess, her uniform was wrinkled, and her sword was barely attached to her belt. She had had no sleep last night, the guilt was eating her alive
. Folken took one look at her and glided across the floor majestically. He fixed her hair, straightened her uniform and reattached her scabbard to her sword belt.
"What is it?" he asked into her ear grasping her shoulders. she quickly backed away, afraid of him for the first time. 'He did that before he knocked Van out...'
"I can't...kill them." She stuttered.
"But you must. This is your destiny." He said into her eyes, worried at how she was afraid of him.
"Why do you fear me?"
"Damn you and your destiny to the seven hells!!!!" She shrieked.
She ran and jumped into her guymelef, which she saw as the only way to avoid a confrontation with Folken.
'Shite!! I'm not supposed to fall in love with the one who dies!!!' She cursed at herself.
She took off for Asturia with Dilandau close behind.
"Kim, what are you doing???" Folken ask.
"Exactly what you want me to COMMANDER!!" she hissed, becoming formal and detached from him.
Dilandau watched as the girl traveled to Asturia. something told him that she would get in the way and so he contemplated killing her. But something stopped him and he merely hit her with the back of his hands. He hit hard, and so she crashed into the forest and after he was sure she wouldn't get in the way, he continued on to Asturia.
*****
Holly stifled a yawn. This wedding was getting boring.
"HOLLY!"
Holly clamped her hands over her ears as she heard the shrill shriek...until she realized that the sound hadn't come from without.
"FOLKEN!"
Oh no, Kim...What happened to Kim...
"Something's wrong!" Holly cried.
"What do you mean?" Gaddes asked. Before she had a chance to answer, the Alsedies landed in the square, where Milerna and Dryden had just kissed.
"I'm here!" Dilandau shrieked.
No, this is all wrong...Dilandau is supposed to have snapped and been taken by the sorcerers...he can't be here, he can't! Nariya and Ariya....Except they do not exist in this story.
It would have been...KIM!
Dilandau must have knocked her out! Where is she...
"I've come for revenge!" Dilandau screamed. He started to destroy things...
That's it. I've had enough of his garbage. Folken...you're such a jerk to send people to attack a wedding...Kim how could you fall for such a loser? Holly shook her head. You know he's only doing this because he thinks it's right...but it is time to stop.
"Dilandau!" she yelled. "You remember me! Why don't you come and get me!"
Dilandau looked crazily down at her.
"Yes...that would make me VERY HAPPY!" he cackled. He picked her up with the claw of his guymelef...
"Holly, no!" Van yelled. He started towards her...
I can just picture those guys going "Fate levels dropping...."
"Van!" she yelled. "Van!" Their hands touched...and Dilandau dropped her.
She fell...into Allen's arms.
"Put me down!" She rushed over to Van.
"VAN!" she threw her arms around him...
She looked up at Dilandau...he looked sick.
So...they used the fortune blood...on Dilandau???! This is so confusing...
"Van, are you all right?"
"Yes...I'm sorry I couldn't save you..." he said, looking daggers at Allen.
"You did, Van. You saved me."
Now what happens next??!
*****
Something was going terribly wrong. Folken began to pace. He was completely ignoring Dornkirk who wouldn't shut up.
Someone brought him the news that both of the guymelefs he'd sent out had been struck down.
"Acceptable losses." Dornkirk said cheerily.
Folken ripped off his cape. "You're wrong!!" He shrieked wildly, and ran to the guymelef hangar. "I must save her, this is all my fault that she is in this mess. I love her too much to lose her now. I...I love her?" He asked himself aloud, hopping into a guymelef. "Yes! I do!!! I Love KIM!!!!" He screamed wildly as he struck down the floating fortress, sending it plunging into the sea. He flew at top speed, until he saw Kim's guymelef lying in the forest.
He landed quickly and prayed to the gods that he wasn't too late.
Kim could hear Folken talking to her, and he seemed to be crying...
"I'm ok..." she murmured hoping he had heard her.
"Thank the gods." he said Right above her. He released the hatch, and enveloped her into his strong arms.
She clung to him and inhaled.
"You were right." he said quietly.
"About what?" she asked, her eyes flashing open.
"Everything. The death, the self pity, the killing." He sighed, ashamed of who he'd become. "We're going to Fanelia to see my brother."
She began to sob. "Shhhh... It's alright..." he soothed, and carried her to his guymelef.
She rode on his shoulder over the ruins of Asturia.
"Folken wait!!!" she cried. He landed the guymelef. They ran over to Dilandau.
"That's why I wouldn't let you tamper with my blood." she explained.
They gingerly took Dilandau with them to Fanelia.
Before Folken contacted Van through Ruhm, he did once last thing as the Strategos of the Zaibach empire. He destroyed the Guymelef that had brought them there, and he kissed Kim.
*****
Holly sat on her bed in the castle at Asturia, and hugged her knees. Van was still avoiding her, probably because Allen was still pursuing her.
Allen's a nice guy, I finally admit, and he's a good kisser...but I am in love with Van.
She could feel it in her heart...She had never known what love felt like until now.
I wonder...I wonder if Van is going to Fanelia tonight to meet Folken...if Folken was reformed. Kim...
She heard howling, and her ring glowed.
Yes, Van is going to Fanelia, and I am going with him.
She went outside, and sure enough, there was Van, talking to one of the wolf men...the one with white hair.
"Van! Wait for me!"
"Oh, it's you," he said. He had drawn his sword at the oncoming noise...he sheathed it again when he saw her.
"I'm coming too, Van."
"Yes."
On Escaflowne, they traveled to Fanelia.
"Van...it's not a trap," she said. "Please believe me. Your brother...he was...confused."
"How would you know?" Van demanded.
"I just know, Van. He's your brother. Something in him makes him have to care for you..." just like I care for you..
Why couldn't she say it out loud? The answer deep in her heart...she was afraid of rejection.
I don't know if he loves me. I can't tell...and I love him so much it would hurt to be rejected...
They finally reached Fanelia, and there they saw not only Folken and Ruhm, but Kim, and...
Dilandau????
*****
"Yes Holly, it's Dilandau. A forever masculine Dilandau, not Dilandau Schezar." Kim smiled knowing this would elate Holly.
"Van, my brother. I realize that I was wrong in my ways. I have destroyed the Vione and wish to return to Asturia with you. Do you hate me brother?" Folken asked, all the while holding Kim's hand. She couldn't wipe the foolish grin from her face.
"You are no brother of mine!" Van yelled, charging with his sword...dragons came out of hiding and ran after them... "Kim...Did you just say forever masculine Dilandau?" Holly shrieked as Van dragged her off into hiding.
Folken dragged Kim off into another direction and pondered what she had just said. Dilandau was covered and hidden in a broken building because he could not run. 'Forever masculine...'
"Van put down the sword..." Folken made his speech about Van's anger and eventually Holly ran into them.
"Trust me," he said and covered Holly's mouth when they were faced with the dragon. He merely held Kim tighter to his ripped body. Holly nodded, and he told them both that he needed their help.
Folken flew down from the buildings, his shirt ripping.
Kim saw Holly's knees buckle and caught her.
He eyed down the dragon and made Van drop his sword, and soon the dragons left them.
"Your anger and fear is what causes them to attack," Holly said, going to Van. "Remember what I said about senseless killing...It was all true." She looked to Folken, trying not to fall again at how sexy he looked. She hadn't missed the looks he and Kim were exchanging...
Go Kim! Lucky you!
"Folken, I think you have something you want to say to Van?"
Folken nodded at the girls gentle prodding. "Van I wish to join you in your fight against Dornkirk," he said his eyes imploring into Van's.
Kim stood there supporting Holly, all the while her eyes were transfixed upon Van, except when Folken gazed at her with those lovely eyes...
Van did not know what to say. He was staring at his long lost brother. "Brother...your...your wings..."
Folken's wings were pitch black.
"Van...Let him come to Asturia," Holly said gently, linking her arm in his. "Please...he will help greatly." "
All right," Van said. "Let's go."
*****
They traveled to Asturia and were met with great suspicions.
Once Folken had proved that he and Kim weren't evil like the one they had served, they were met with open arms. They drew maps and Folken showed everyone what Dornkirk planned to do and all Kim could do was nod. She didn't know as much as he did. (Well, she did actually, but she had no right to know it, and she didn't want people to be using her like Hitomi.)
She became quiet and she walked up to Folken and said she was going for a walk.
He looked at her, fear in his eyes, but she smiled and pecked him on the cheek. He squeezed her hand and watched her go, not turning back to the plans until he could on longer see her. Kim wandered for a while and eventually came to rest beside a fountain.
"Theee fountain.." she giggled, and wondered where Holly was.
*****
Holly wandered around aimlessly.
Van...you're still so suspicious of Folken...and you want talk to me. Are you angry?
She looked out of a window and saw Kim sitting by THE fountain.
Hmm...
"Kim!" she called. "Here I am!"
She sat beside her. "So much has happened...I have changed so much...I'm still crazy but I know things I never wanted to, like the smell of blood, the taste of fear...how someone looks after they have been dead for a while..." she shuddered.
"I'm psychic like Hitomi..." Kim sighed. "And not because I watched the show...but because I have visions. Look at me, I'm dressed like a dragon slayer, I can pilot a guymelef, wield a sword, and aww Hell, I'm in love with him. This has got to be the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me in my life. But I'm sheltered still. I've never seen anyone die, apart from the visions." She shuddered and closed her eyes.
She felt his hand land on her shoulder, and Holly grew very silent.
She opened a curious eye to see Folken beside her, his irresistible self and she couldn't stop the smile from flickering across her lips.
"Do you miss you homeland?" he asked Holly, his voice raising goosebumps on Kim's neck.
"Truthfully? I'm scared to death that I'm gonna die at any second...but I do not miss home at all," she replied. "At home, no one cared...well maybe they did, but we never got along, and being apart...it doesn't hurt as much as I thought it might." She smiled. "Besides all the sexy men are here!"
And the only one I want is Van...Oh Van...
Allen poked his head out of the door and asked Folken to come and answer some more of their questions.
Folken sighed and kissed Kim's temple. "I'll return" he promised and she smiled at him.
Kim and Holly followed later after a long talk about how much had happened while they had been apart. Just as they entered the room Allen asked the question that would change everything.
"Who is Dilandau?"
Folken was quiet for a moment and then he spoke. "The sorcerers conducted experiments in hopes to find a human being who could kill without conscience. Dilandau was the protegé," he said, shaking his head sadly. It was like a slap in the face. Kim staggered and then completely collapsed into the vision.
It was a beautiful sunny day and she was five and playing outside in a beautiful field.
"Wait for meee brother!!!" she cried running after the form ahead of her.
*I don't have a brother!!!* her mind screamed. She turned around and it was......Allen.
"Brother!!!!" she yelled and ran giggling into his arms
"Holy sh*t Holly. My last name is Schezar!!!" she moaned holding her aching head.
"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" Holly demanded. "Don't be so flipping stupid! You can't possibly be his sister cause we're from the flipping MYSTIC MOON you are being a MORON!" Holly yelled, shaking Kim by the shoulders. (She was feeling worn out and this drove her to the edge) "DILANDAU was his sister...YOU"RE WRRRRRRRRRRRONG!"
"Listen you fricken pyro!!!" Kim screamed back. "I'm the one with these crap turd visions and I'm telling you that he's my F ing brother. Why won't you just flipping believe me!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dilandau's weenie is permanent. JEEPERS!!!" she cried sitting up and gripping Holly's hands tightly.
Holly smacked Kim across the face and dragged her out of her chair. "Let's go! Right here, right now! I can't stand your FACE ANY LONGER!"
She ignored the stares from Allen, Folken and Van. Kim began to rip Holly's clothes to shreds as Holly did the same. Eventually Holly was left in a VERY short skirt and strapless, her boobs being the only thing that held her dress on. Kim's uniform was completely destroyed and she was left in her undershirt and her pants looked like hot pants. She growled and drew her sword, prepared to end this... But Holly's look stopped her. Kim's mouth dropped open and she began to cry, letting the sword clatter behind her back.
"Forgive me...I almost killed you!!!!" she cried.
Holly broke down. She began to sob. "I almost set your hair on fire! I'm soooo sorry!" she wailed. "I didn't mean any of it! I didn't!" She hugged Kim and heard various cheers from the guys.
"But really...who want to see my boobs anyway?"
Allen and Van choked.
Holly blushed.
"Uh, Kim...what happens next?"
Kim's eye's misted over.... "They're coming to attack us...To kill us. Sandwiches. Mannit!!!" She kicked the chair away. "My fault my fault my fault...." she chanted.
"Stop it!!!" Folken cried standing so abruptly that his chair was knocked over. "It's my fault. I've betrayed everyone!!" He said and swiftly left.
Kim looked around at the audience of their catfight and blushed.
"Zaibach is going to attack Asturia in a matter of minutes. Treaties mean nothing to them. Everything must be destroyed." Kim said in a voice that sounded frighteningly like Dornkirk's.
She shook it off and sank in to the nearby chair, which she had taken her frustrations out on earlier.
"Oh man," Holly moaned. "More fighting more death more killing..." she looked around the room. "I feel like it's my fault as well."
"Don't be silly," Allen said. "Can you really be my little lost sister Celena?" Allen asked Kim wonderingly. "I thought she was dead..."
Kim's head pounded and her eyes flashed open in anger. "My name is not CELENA" she said shrieking the name. "It's Kim, and yes Allen I am your sister, because it is so." She looked at him and smiled. "This would be the reason I love piloting guymelef and sword fighting. I never had a brother that I can remember. I grew up on the Mystic Moon. Holly and I have been friends for eleven years. Since I ended up there. Holly, you are from Gaea too! I just remembered... You and I, we're taken from here because we were dangerous...But we came back...And the show was... my visions. But a little warped because of the crap that Dornkirk put into our minds. Holly? What's going on? Am I on a drug trip, or do you remember too???" Kim became worried.
"No drug trip..." Holly felt incredibly overwhelmed. "What the heck...the whole world just came crashing down at my feet..." She fell to the floor.
Allen and Van were summoned to fight...
"Kim...Is Van...is Van killing to protect me?" Holly demanded.
"Yes. He sees you safe in his heart every time he kills someone. Don't be afraid of him when he gets that crazy look in his eyes, he truly loves you, and you're not leaving!!" Kim giggled.
She choked when she saw what was happening. "How can you see this??" Kim wailed. "It hurts! It's so awful!!" she said tears streaming down her face.
"I want to leave!" Holly wailed. "I can't take this! He doesn't love me! TAKE ME HOME!" The ring on her finger glowed...
*****
They sat side by side on Holly's couch, their normal clothes had returned, and there on the TV was Escaflowne.
"What the heck did you do????" Kim screamed clasping her hands around Holly's neck. Suddenly the TV exploded and became a smoldering mass before them.
"I guess I should watch what I do with my psychic energy now shouldn't I?" Kim muttered dropping her hands. *
***
Folken approached Van when he saw that the two girls had disappeared.
"We must go after them Van, without them Gaea will be destroyed. I love Kim, and you love Holly, and Holly, well she loves you back."
*****
Holly looked at the pieces of the TV and began to cry.
"I...I don't know..." She wailed. "I just don't' want to see the fighting anymore. I don't want to see the death...but..."
She suddenly had a revelation. "No, I'm being just like Hitomi! I'm so stupid!" She heard her family slam in. "Mom! Dad!" She called. She was faced with a complete stranger.
"Who are you?" the woman demanded.
"Kim...this is my house but...It is not my house. We have to go back. We are from Gaea...it is where we belong..." *****