[Somewhere else
where Van, Hitomi, and the others are]
"I think
it's time, Mother. Hitomi needs to know what she must do now that
she is in possession of the last key."
"Agreed, my
son. She also needs to know the meaning of the Crystal Key. And
the inscriptions..."
"What are
we to do about Brother and the other two? Are they to
see..."
"Van will
see what Hitomi sees. Their destinies are entwined together, and
the will both bring Gaea to peace, despite the fact that
Hitomi is the only Keeper."
"And the
other two? Kirei, I think, and Rallin? What of them?"
"Kirei is
Van's - and your - cousin. A Fanel. And Rallin, he was in a
situation much like yours until a short time ago. Were you not
paying attention Folken?"
"I was
paying attention, mother. But I never expected to be taken to the
Mystic Valley years after my death to see my brother and Hitomi
again. Does this usually happen?"
"Not
really. We were given this, not only because we are related to
the Dragon, my son, but because we are Draconians, the
descendants of Atlantis. We were, and always will be, the
bringers of Destiny." Varie paused, "And as for the
other two... they have parts to play as well. They will
hear."
"Very well,
mother. It will be good to see Van again. It's been five
years..."
Varie smiled.
"It's time."
Together, mother
and son walked to where their visitors awaited them.
***
Moments after
she had taken the key, the light around Hitomi and Van had
disappeared, and thus took them from where they had been aware of
just themselves, to an awareness that made them realize where
they were - and who had come with them.
Of course, where
they were came up first.
"Van we're
in..." Hitomi's voice was filled with awe.
"The Mystic
Valley," finished Van, knowing the end of her sentence.
"But why? Was it to save us from dying in the blast?"
"Maybe...
but there must be another reason. The last time we were
here..."
Their
conversation was interuppted by Rallin's voice. "You mean we
are in the Mystic Valley? The home of the Draconians?"
Rallin's voice was filled with disbelief. "Van, Hitomi, you must
be kidding."
They looked at
each other, then at Rallin, that back at each other. Both were
surprised that Rallin had given up with the 'Lord and Lady'
(Hitomi thought it was annoying, being as she wasn't used to it,
and Van, though he had been a royal all his life, hated protocol
and if he didn't have to be addressed, he wouldn't.). Nodding,
Hitomi turned to explain.
"We are
speaking the truth. These are the ruins of Atlantis, though the
last time we were here it was more of an affirmation for us. This
time though..."
"What did
it bring, Hitomi?" asked Kirei, broken out of his solitary
thoughts.
"The last
key..." said Van, slowly, "but what happens
now..."
"Will be
explained, my brother."
Varie and Folken
Fanel had just arrived on the scene.
"Any word
Allen?" Dryden's voice, though as dry and thoughtful as
ever, held a hint of worry in it. It had been over four hours
since the Knight Caeli had return from Tourain Valley to give
word of a possilbe wipe-out. The entity of the people of Freid's
capital had been evacuated at the very borders, and had the enemy
advanced, would have been brought to Palas.
"Nothing,
Dryden." Allen's voice was full of both anger and
impatience. "Not a single thing. I haven't recieved a
transmission from either, Kirei, Khristos, or Van since they told
me to warn Chid."
"Speaking
of that, how is the young Duke?"
"Talking to
your wife at the moment. I think Millerna is trying to convince
him that it is alright he didn't fight. Speaking of her, should I
be calling you Lord and Lady or Your Highness or Majesty, or
something to that extent?" The knight grinned. "After
all, I would absolutely hate to see Miden's face when he
finds out you let soldiers address you by your first name."
"You should
be Schezar, but start it when it is just us and I will order your
dismissal." Dryden grinned. "What my father thinks is
of no mattter right now. All he is is my father, not the master
of protocol or anything else."
"Just the
same, your Majesty, he WOULD care."
"Schezar..."
"Just
kidding Dryden, just kidding." The two men stood, and exited
the room, making their way towards Chid's study in the temporary
castle.
"Mother!"
said Van, starting in surprise.
His surprise was
echoed in Hitomi. "Varie?" She sensed a very
familiar prescense, and her gaze shifted to the man standing
beside Van's mother. His brother. "Folken!" Hitomi
smiled, but then a thought occurred to her, making her solemn
once again. "Are we dead?"
"Of course
not, Hitomi," said Folken, a touch of amusement evident in
his voice. "The Mystic Valley is indeed a place for the
living, although it does have a sense of other-worldliness of it.
It helps people realize their destinies. Like before." With
that, he smiled, and turned to the two men that were watching
them their mouths open in disbelief. Folken bowed. "Welcome,
Kirei Fanel, and - I think this is correct, Rallin Khristos. My
name is Folken Lacour de Fanel, and that is my mother, Varie
Fanel. There is much to explain. Let us go. We can finish
introductions later."
A white beam of
light came down from the sky and engulfed the travellers, the
guymelefs, and the two Draconian guides.
Sheesh,
what a short chapter, right?
I had
originally planned to have more in this chapter, but that seemed
like a good place to stop, and anyway, as I said in the AN above,
I have another plot twist for you - so I hope you don't mind that
this will end up a deal longer as a result. So the epilogue that
I said would appear a month ago will probably take longer to get
out...
This
chapter was AMAZINGLY short for me. Not a whole lot happened
either, 'cept for the key, and Varie, and Folken, and all. And a
small glipse of Dryden, and Allen (since you guys haven't seen
them in a while). Hope you don't mind,
Angelic1090
04.15.2001
Happy Easter Sunday!