Episode Thirteen: In Dreams

Escaflowne: Dreams of Destiny

Previously on Escaflowne: Dreams of Destiny

After being shunned from the only place that had offered him solace, Rallin Ulrain Khristos must come to terms with his past - and does so by finding Kirei, and demands a duel for the horrifying betrayal he believes he has suffered at his hands. In the midst of this important duel, the betrayal is revealed to be at the hands of those whom Rallin had found acceptance with. In the meantime, Van decides to take his relationship to a higher emotional level, and Hitomi has conversations with Chid.


Van walked into the bedroom he shared with Hitomi, yawning softly as he looked out the open window into the night sky. The two moons shone brightly in the sky, the larger one a mix of blues, and greens, and the white wisps that represented clouds. The sight was beautiful, one he had beheld for all of his 20 years, save for the two days he was on the Mystic Moon. Thinking of that, he walked into the bedchamber, fully expecting to see Hitomi already asleep on the bed. She had been increasingly tired lately, not weaker, just falling asleep much faster and earlier than before. At first Van had wondered if it was because of her burns, but it seemed otherwise. Upon further reflection, and talking to her, and just being with Hitomi, it seemed as though her body were preparing for something. Making her heal faster, so she would be able to meet whatever it was head on, and with the strength she had always shown.

Van was surprised when he found the bed perfectly made. And perfectly empty. Confused, he called out softly, "Hitomi? Are you in here?" Walking around the bedchamber, he saw a strip of light coming through from the small study that accompanied the room. Walking towards the door, and gently tilting it open, he smiled when he saw Hitomi asleep, her head resting on the table. A candle, its wick burning low, in front of her on the desk, the cards spread in front of her. Not noticing any of the particular cards, he smiled again, and gently picked up Hitomi, carrying her back into the main part of their chambers. She was already dressed in her sleeping garments, and Van laid her on the bed, tucking her in affectionatley.

"Sweet dreams, my dear one." Van kissed her forehead, before he too, changed, and climbed into bed.


:: Hitomi's Dream ::

She was in a valley, with no notion of familarity as with the last two keys. This place was completely unknown, an enigma that was soon to be revealed. She looked around her, her mind etching the look and feel of this place into her mind. When she dreamed about places, it DID tend to be important in the world of the waking. That occuring to her, Hitomi looked around again, the image burned in her mind.

A green valley, lush with grasses, and trees, and flowers that looked as delicate as glass. And a crystal clear river running through it. It was a beautiful place, a dream to spend an afternoon in. It was too bad it was going to be destroyed... or was it?

"Are all these visions meant to be a gateway to the keys? Is that my only purpose here?" Hitomi voiced the question to her surroundings. It appeared that she was the only one in this beautiful place. As an afterthought, she couldn't help but look around, and think...

I wish Van was here too.

It both amazed and scared Hitomi how much Van had come to mean to her in only a few short months. She had known since the end of the Great War that she loved him... But she was astounded by the depth of emotion she held for him. And the depth she sensed in him. The bond that had been present all those years ago, had returned upon her return to Gaea, and had strengthened. She always knew where he was now... and what he was feeling. "I love him. And we're finally together. But I still wish he was here."

Hitomi sighed. She would leave this dream when it was time for her to. For now, she wanted to look around.


Hikeshi prepped his guymelef as the hidden leviship sped its way towards Freid. There was no real interest in destroying Freid, but for Hikeshi and his country, the only conquest they had was Gaea. And they would gain it without losing much of their army as Zaibach had done five years ago. No, they would gain Gaea, and it would only be at the expense of one person. One woman. The Keeper. Hikeshi himself had never seen the woman, but he assumed it shouldn't be hard - if she WASN'T from Gaea, how hard could she be to spot?

Hikeshi looked out one of the windows, and back at the soon shrinking Goshem Fortress. Even if this WAS against Adelphus' orders... he would praise them if they destroyed the Keeper. He would praise them if they brought Victory to Goshem.


For a long time, Kirei and Rallin had just looked at each other. Neither allowed their gazes to waiver, letting the truths of the battle settle in. Rallin's mid reeled at the truth behind his family's collapse. His sister - his twin, really - and his baby brother. They had been killed for the sake of... of what? Was there any rhyme or reason to what they had to done to his family? They had only been innocent...

Rallin paused at that thought. When he... attacked, did the people he killed... were they innocents too? Did they have families that missed them, loved ones forever seeking revenge for their deaths? Did they... had they... had they deserved to die? It hit Rallin all at once. Never in his life as a soldier had he once considered the consequences of his actions.

He was close to damning himself when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned with blank eyes to face Kirei, whose own face was very gentle.

"I realize it's a lot to take in," he stated matter-of-factly, "but it isn't safe here, and we should head back to Freid. No good will come of us staying in this clearing. We'll leave in a few moments."

Rallin could only nod blankly. They were heading to Freid. The land he had helped try to destroy.


:: Hitomi's Dream ::

"It is good to see you again, Hitomi Kanzaki." A rich voice sounded just behind Hitomi in the beautiful landscape, and it caused her to whip around to face the source of the voice. She was surprised at it's owner.

"F-Folken. You look..." Hitomi paused and searched for the words in her mind. "At peace. Why are you here? Do you know why I'm here?"

"There is a lot to tell Hitomi, this could take a while." Folken smiled.

"However long it takes, I'm sure I need to hear it." They sat down, and began to talk.

:: Exit Dream ::

Van had woken up late in the night, the sky still pitch black though the images of Gaea's two moons, and the many stars too, dotted the sky. It was a beautiful night, and he wished that Hitomi was awake to see it. But the expression on her face, though serene, looked utterly serious, and he guessed she was seeing a vision that would tell of something important to come. And he STILL thought she needed to rest - despite her VOCAL protests. She had argued, and pleaded, and chided that she was fine, but Van wasn't about to take a chance. ANY chance. He had promised to protect her (in his mind, anyway) and he would hold true to it.

"I'll be back Hitomi, just keep on seeing what you are, and when you wake up I'll have returned." Van brushed a small kiss on her temple, and exited the room, taking care to close the door carefully. He walked through the hallways, a steady pace that made no sound. He reached the melef hangar, and as he walked out, saw two shapes approaching from the sky. His cousin, Van knew, but... who was the other shape?


Rallin had not spoken a single word since they left the forest. In fact, upon further contemplation... Rallin had not said a word since they had stopped fighting, and he had heard Kirei's confession of innocence. Kirei, looking over at... whatever Rallin was to him now. In a few short hours he had gone from an enemy to an acquaintance. And Kirei didn't know what to make of it. Suddenly, off in the distance, he could make out the dim shape of a man, standing tall in the twilight. As they neared the hangar, Kirei could discern that the shape was cousin. Van, no doubt, had probably just wanted some air. At least... that's how it appeared to Kirei. Over a period of years, he grown to know his cousin almost as well as himself. Well, maybe not that much. There was only so much Van would show, and thus let Kirei understand. But with what Van had shown... Kirei knew him well.

The hangar was getting closer, and Kirei called out to Rallin, "My cousin, Van Fanel is at the gate for us. Do not worry, I will talk to him once we land."

Rallin only nodded.


They were nearing Freid. Hikeshi smiled, thinking of the battle to come. He enjoyed fighting - it was his life and destiny to be on the battlefield until the bitter end. Hikeshi himself knew that it was a soldier's destiny to die in battle, and even as a noble - he was still a soldier.

"But if I die..." said Hikeshi, smiling into the night, "I'll be sure to take the enemy with me."


:: Hitomi's Dream ::

"So.... this isn't where the key will be, Folken?"

"I honestly don't know Hitomi. You of all people should know that the future is never for certain." Folken paused. "All that I know is what I have told you. This will be the setting of something important to you. The gods did not specify exactly what."

Hitomi paused for a moment, wondering what this place could possibly mean to her. "Does it involve Van?"

Folken looked surprised. "It could be. I'm not sure, as I said before. Speaking of which... how is little brother anyway? Unlike you, he does not dream often, and I do not get to visit." Folken smiled. "Could you tell me how he is?"

Hitomi smiled. "He's fine. He's changed, that's for certain. He shows his emotions sometimes now... and he's stronger. He's become accustomed to being a ruler I suppose."

"I knew he would. Remember this place Hitomi. And tell little brother I am fine." Folken smiled, and began to walk away.

"Don't worry, Folken. I will. We will BOTH be fine." She blinked, and then

:: End Dream ::

Hitomi blinked in real life, and woke up to see that it was still late at night, and that Van was no longer in the bed beside her. She smiled, and stretched. I think I'll go look for him, thought Hitomi, while she stood. I'll bet he's at the hangar.

She left the room, smiling as she made her way through the hallways. To Van. To her love.


Van was still waiting for the two melefs to land when he felt a familiar prescence come behind him. He smiled as he felt her move until she was just infront of him. His smiled widened, and he wrapped his arms around her lithe form.

"You woke up too, Hitomi?" Van bent down until his mouth was near her, and his breath made her giggle. "You looked very much asleep when I left you."

"I was, thank you. I had a dream to go through, and I have something to tell you. But it can wait until we are alone. Speaking of which... is that Kirei up there?" Hitomi turned her gaze towards the sky, and, as she thought, saw the familiar silhouette of Kirei's Ikari against the background of Gaea's moons. But there was someone up there with him. "And who is the person with him?"

"I don't know Hitomi, but we'll find out soon." He held her closer as the Ikari and Minuit began their descent.


Hello Everyone!

Well, okay so I screwed up a LOT somewhere around... hmm... chapter 3!!!?? That seems so long ago, and I realized that the name I originally gave Rallin was Reyna (Angelic promptly gags). And also that this WAS originally called "Dreams of Destiny"... so that'll ALL BE CHANGED. I think that's it for the mistakes I made... the one's I noticed anyway. All the title mistakes in ALL the chapters have been changed, but not the content (except for the keys, which I'll explain) so you won't have to read all of the first 12 chapters again. Oh and in the tiny AN at the beginning of the last chapter it's meant to say "Freid" not "Fanelia."

And the keys. Okay I honestly can't remember what they represented initially, but now GOLD represents SERENITY or happiness, calmness (it seemed like the best word so don't complain); SILVER represents PROSPERITY; and the soon-to-make-an-appearance CRYSTAL KEY (no it's no longer Jewel) will represent...? You'll have to wait and find out. It MIGHT not be like what it said in Ch3...

^_^ This chapter was certainly one VERY long night, now wasn't it? I know I said that most episodes either last 2 weeks, or span two weeks between each one, and that applies to this, although the NEXY episode occurs RIGHT AFTER the end to this one. And Imajinator, I WAS going to have the next battle in this chapter, but Hitomi's dream and the glances between Kirei and Rallin, and Van, and HIKESHI (*winks* does everyone remember him?) made that a lot long than I thought it would be. But there's loads of stuff running through my head, so don't worry, Ch 14 already going to be started today.

I'm VERY VERY sorry for the mistakes,

Angelic1090
04.01.2001 (April Fools!)
There's nothing false in here I think...