Disclaimer: Don't own Escaflowne (man I hate saying that do they make us do this disclaimer thing just to remind us of what we don't have? some people I tell ya) I do own ( I like this part tho ^^) Perlis (unfortunately) Relim (cutie) Otis and Erant and such you get the point yotsu, erant's wife, all those weird characters.

A/N Alrighty next chapter let's go. Oh and don't worry about Perlis brain washing Yukari he's already tried that and to do it again would just be old right? Good glad you agree.

And to answer your questions Magicman: Yea Perlis is pretty much a coward ^^ why is he doing this? oh I can't tell you that now, you'll have to find out later and the gecko's worked for him the same way he took over westin well kinda. He bribed them with money and brain washed the rest.

Sorry everyone I didn't put that in there but that's what happened. Oh and he went to earth because he was able to suck some of Hitomi's powers I know that seems impossible but in my story it happens ^^ and thanks for the review.

Thanks to everyone who keeps continuously reviewing (you know like angelwarriar, Magicman Sereneblaze, Yukari-Uchida, Equinox, ZEmpress and if i missed you sorry you know who you are and i want to say I'm grateful!!!)

Also I would like beg for your forgiveness everyone!! I haven't updated this story in so long I'm ashamed. I just got stuck then had terrible writer's block (I'm sure most can relate) But I want to thank everyone for being patient. I'm so sorry once again, I should have updated a lot sooner.

Oh and in case you forgot what was going on (hey even I did) here is a summary.

Hitomi went back to find that Van had signed a treaty agreeing he would kill Hitomi. Opps it was part of a plan to get the bad guy but no one believes him. Allen went to jail to save Merle they got out but Van had been stabbed and Hitomi was in Asturia with everyone else. News reaches them and Allen tells all of the details everyone is guilt stricken. Hitomi finds he's not really dead and is kidnapped. They boom and blow up things and save Hitomi after she had been brain washed. But Merle goes to Westin to visit with Relim but Relim is taken over by dun dun dun PERLIS! So he sucked Hitomi's powers and went to earth to get whom? That's right Yukari and Merle now sit in a dark room locked up in westin.

On with the story!



Merle sat there in front of the brown haired girl.

'I know I've heard that name before,' she couldn't put her finger on it but she had heard that name before.

"Well we have to get out of here and to Fanelia as soon as possible so get up and help me," Merle jumped to her feet and grabbed the metal pole.

Yukari was hesitant but she stood up and wrapped her arms around herself.

"How are we going to get out?" her shaky voice broke into Merle's thoughts.

"We're going to run"

"Run?"

"Yes," Merle replied, "Now lie down"

Yukari frowned at the cat girl, "Excuse me?"

"Would you just lie down!"

Yukari frowned all the way down to the floor.

"GUARDS! HELP! She's sick! I think she has a fever help!"

Yukari's frown turned to one of horror and Merle put her finger to her lips telling her to be quiet. The door opened and a guard stepped in. Took one look at Yukari and then turned to Merle just in time to hit the floor. Merle bounced out the door and rammed the pole into the other guard's head. His eyes rolled back and he hit the floor with a thud. Merle stuck her head in the door and smiled at Yukari.

"Let's go"

Yukari was shaking but she jumped up and headed out the door following Merle.

"Now what do we do?!" Yukari shrieked at the unconscious guard

"THERE THEY ARE GET THEM!!!!"

Merle and Yukari quickly turned to see about 10 guards shuffling down the hallway, swords in hand.

"Now we run!" Merle yelled dropping to all fours and racing down the hall in the opposite direction of the guards.

Yukari stood frozen to her spot.

'This isn't happening' she told herself

Merle reached the end of the hall and skidded to a stop, she didn't hear Yukari's feet behind her. Turning she saw the guards grab her and tie her up again. Merle let out a sigh of frustration and started off down the halls.

'I can't head back to Relim they'll be looking for me the only thing I can do is head for Fanelia and pray I get there,' she thought dodging stunned guards and finally jumping out a window she began her journey over the hills of sand.

Perlis smiled as he saw the cat head off into the golden desert. This was going better than he had planned. Now he had Yukari to himself and Merle wouldn't be there to correct his damage. The guards burst through his study door and threw Yukari to his feet.

Perlis frowned at the guards and immediately punched both of them sending them flying into the hall. Closing the door he picked up the shivering and crying Yukari.

"I'm so very sorry for your rude arrival but it was necessary"

Yukari blinked trying to see through her tears as the man untied her. Merle had said he was evil making him the last man on earth she wanted to be in the same room with.

'One problem Yukari,' she told herself, 'You're not on earth'

Perlis helped her to a chair and walked back over to his window.

"I'm afraid young lady that you have been brought to Gaia in its darkest hour," Perlis faked his sorrow

Yukari managed to pull herself out of her shock long enough to answer the mad man.

"You brought me here! why?"

"I'm afraid that was a mistake, I was trying in a desperate attempt to send the seer lady Hitomi back to her planet. I'm new with this power therefore you were brought here."

Yukari was silent, it was just more than she could let sink in right now. Hitomi goes missing and then she suddenly gets sucked into the imaginary world her friend had been talking about. In the middle of it's darkest hour no less.

Perlis took her silence as a good thing, "You see the Great War ended leaving Fanelia and it's allies in a very profitable situation. Gaia was back to normal and Fanelia was one of its new powers because King Fanel and Hitomi the seer had saved the planet from Zaibach."

Perlis turned to face her and was beyond happy to see her listening intently.

"Unfortunately the power went to King Van's head," he plastered on a sad smile, "He became power hungry and convinced his allies they could rule the world together. When Hitomi returned it only added to his ego. They were married and together they are slowly destroying the other countries of Gaia bent on taking over. Hitomi has proven to be a great aid to the king and with her visions they can prepare for our feeble attacks before they happen. It is impossible to assassinate the couple and between Hitomi's brain and Van's brawn we, the smaller countries are an easy target."

Yukari's eyes grew ten sizes larger, "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!!! HITOMI WOULDN'T DO THAT!!"

"My dear girl I'm sorry this is a shock to you but look out the window"

Yukari jumped up and ran to the window, the village and market were still smoldering and the smoke was filling the air. She gasped as the soldiers smothered the remaining flames. She turned to face Perlis her face no longer sad but angry.

"I still don't believe you Hitomi wouldn't do this!!"

Perlis shook his head, "I'm sorry dear girl but she has"

"Merle told me about you! I won't believe you! Not for one minute!!!"

Perlis walked towards her, "I'm sure she has told you about me," he turned to the window and looked out over Westin, "But look at my kingdom, burned to the ground! I have no way to defend myself from these monsters! I'm sure Merle would have things to say against me! She is the king's sister!"

Yukari remembered Merle saying she was Van's sister.

*~~~*

"My name is Merle and I am a friend of Hitomi's. I'm king Van's sister ......" *~~~*

Yukari shook her head, so what? anybody could know she was the sister of a king. So what Merle seemed to hate Perlis, and she claimed to be a friend of Hitomi's. The cat girl wouldn't have lied to her? would she?

"I'm sure the fiend has told you I have some mysterious powers like controlling minds? or stealing powers? didn't she"

Yukari faintly shook her head. Perlis shook his own in mock frustration. Walking over to Yukari he hugged her.

"I'm sorry she lied to you liked that. They can't see why anyone would stay loyal to me and resist such a evil power hungry kingdom like Fanelia"

"Hitomi wouldn't do that...." Yukari continued

"She is blind with love for that evil king of hers, if he says what he is doing it good then she will do it no questions asked."

*~~*

(Flash Back)

"Hitomi what are thinking about? If you don't start taking notes you're going to fail the test next Thursday!"

"I know, sorry Yukari" Hitomi looked down at the paper still out in her own world.

"Hitomi what are you thinking about?"

"Gaia"

"Hitomi don't start that story again," Yukari begged. She was beginning to think her friend had lost it, "What did you do "there" that would have you so occupied?"

Hitomi looked up at her friend her eyes glazed over and for once in months she smiled the brightest smile Yukari had ever seen.

"I fell in love"

*~~*

It was possible if she had been telling the truth about Gaia then she could be head over heels for this monster Van.

"Oh Hitomi what have you done..." Yukari whispered burying her face in Perlis's shirt. Perlis smiled to himself and patted Yukari on her back.

"I'm sorry but it's alright, I'll protect you young lady"

"My name's Yukari, Uchida Yukari."

Perlis smiled even brighter, "Very well, Yukari, would you like to be seen to your room?"

Yukari nodded and Perlis opened the doors and motioned for the guards.

"Please show miss Yukari to her room she has had a most stressful revelation today" The guards nodded and helped Yukari from the room.

*~~*

Merle sucked in the dry air painfully as she stumbled over the stones and branches leading into the forest just beyond Fanelia.

Yesterday had been hell getting out of Westin alive. She had been scratched by a scorpion and had felt the poisonous effects almost immediately. Once she had made it out of the hot desert in one piece a renewed strength had seemed to swell up inside her. Fanelia wasn't too far and with the forest's cool air and berries she just might make it alive.

Her usually shiny pink hair was ratted and sticking to her face with sweat. Her hands were shaking from lack of water and her tail was dragging behind her limply. But she could smell Fanelia and knew it would only be a matter of time before she made it home.

The thought of lying in her bed and seeing her dear brother and close friend again allowed her a small smile. Which in the end only worsened her considerably bad situation. Her lips were dried and cracked and the smile only caused them to bleed.

It seemed like hours as she trudged over branches occasionally leaning against a tree to stop for her breath. The heat for Relim's desert had quite literally almost all her energy. She had found a few berries just a while back but they hadn't helped much. What she needed was a hearty meal and a gallon of water.

Letting the air race through her teeth as she stood up she winced at the pain her stomach was causing. A night without food and water shouldn't have been so bad but a day in the scalding desert followed by a frozen night had taken its toll on her body.

Merle swayed unsteadily as she tripped over another branch. Blinking her glass eyes she growled at her blurry vision and stumbled forward. Fanelia was closer, she could feel it.

Another immeasurable amount of time drew forward as she pushed off trees and made her way through the forest the warm sunlight bouncing off her back. Merle was keeping her eyes on the ground most of the time seeing as how her head just couldn't find the strength to rise.

But as she stumbled past a tree and went to reach for another one she found there were no more trees in front of her.

Lifting her head up ever so slowly she smiled at Fanelia. With a tiny burst of energy she carefully walked down the hill and stumbled through the market. People were staring but obviously didn't find her to badly injured and let her walk on.

Merle didn't care she just had to get to Fanelia and tell Hitomi who had been dragged into this. She smiled once again cracking her lips as the gates came into view. The guards shifted into offensive as they saw someone approaching but froze when they saw Merle swaying towards the gate.

"Lady Merle!" one cried shoving the gate open and running up to her just before she fell.

Merle clutched to the guard, "Van-sama and Hitomi"

The guard nodded and picked Merle up running inside the other guard shutting the gates behind him.

Van was pacing nervously in his study. Hitomi had told him to wait one more day before racing off through the desert. Van had agreed and was spending the entire day pacing his study smacking things often.

He stopped the grinding of his finely carpeted floor when he heard Hitomi's sweet voice outside the door.

"My goodness! Merle!!!"

Van snapped his head up at the sound of his sister's name.

"What happened to you!?" Van could hear Hitomi scream and heard her running down the hall

Vaulting over his desk he threw the study door open and turned to his right where he had heard Hitomi disappear. Sure enough there she was cradling something in her arms a guard looking worried standing next to her.

"Merle!" Van called out hopefully

Van saw something wiggle in Hitomi's arms before sticking her pink little head over Hitomi's shoulder. Van was by Hitomi in a second clutching to his sister.

"What happened to you!?" he demanded pulling Merle against his chest

"Water and food," Merle's cracked voice only increased Van's anger.

Someone was going to pay, his loved one's had been messed with long enough.

Van turned with his sister in his arms and bellowed down to the nearest servant.

"Food and Water quickly!!!"

The servant girl bowed quickly and sprinted off down the hall. Van turned back to look at his sister and slid down the side of the wall to the floor. Hitomi was immediately at his side straightening Merle's legs out.

Van looked at her and saw the worry in her eyes. Turning back to his sister he pushed some of the bangs from her eyes.

"Don't worry we'll get you some food and a nice bath and you'll feel better in no time."

He pulled her head against his chest and looked at his fiancé over his sister's head. He didn't know how much more of this he could take. Taking his free arm he pulled Hitomi close and kissed her forehead. This would end, and very soon. He had almost lost Hitomi and now by the looks of it almost lost his sister.

Clutching Hitomi to his side and Merle to his front he closed his eyes relished the feel of his two angels as they pushed into him.

The servant girl soon came bounding down the hall a tray of food and a glass of water in hand. She set it down and ran off to have a bath prepared for Merle.

Merle's eyes practically beamed at the foodstuffs and water. Reaching for the glass she quickly emptied it and headed for the food. Van had helped her sit up and was leaning against Hitomi watching his sister eat.

When she had finished eating she seemed a little more energized and turned around to the pair. She opened her mouth to tell them of the situation when a gleam bounced off Hitomi's ring.

Snapping her mouth shut she stared at the ring. Hitomi followed her gaze and smiled. Looking back up to Merle she saw Merle grinning from ear to ear despite her cracked lips.

"It's about time!" she said leaping into the couple.

Van smiled and hugged his sister tight Hitomi clutching to the cat girl as well. Merle seemed so happy but as she pushed back her smile lessened.

"You're not going to like this," she began

Van groaned already.

"Perlis got Westin a few days after we got there"

Hitomi's eyes narrowed and Van's lips drew together in a tight line as he looked at the ceiling restraining his anger.

"Hitomi, he somehow got your power over the beam of light," she continued

"What!?" Hitomi burst out

"Merle what did you just say?" Van chimed in

"He went to earth," Merle went on

"And it gets better," Van muttered to himself

Hitomi looked pale though, "He didn't."

Merle winced and nodded to Hitomi, "She couldn't keep up with me I'm sorry I had to get out and tell you."

Hitomi jumped to her feet, " I'm going, now!"

Van pushed forward and grabbed his fiancé's ankle, "Hitomi!! What happened?!"

Merle turned to her brother, "He brought back Yukari Van-sama"

Van let his fingers drop as he turned to Merle, "He what?"

That name rung a bell and Van desperately searched his memory for any sign of details. Then it struck him, Yukari. Spinning he looked at an enraged Hitomi on the verge of tears clenching her fists.

Yukari, the same Yukari that was Hitomi's best friend on the mystic moon? No it couldn't be.

"Yukari, Hitomi's Yukari?" Van questioned

Merle slowly nodded a yes. He fell back against the wall with another groan.

"I'm going to personally rip that man to pieces," he muttered

"Not if I get to him first," Merle narrowed her eyes and extended her claws.

Reopening his eyes Van saw Hitomi was already marching down the hall. Scrambling to his feet he pulled Merle up.

"Go ahead and go take your bath and rest up we'll be heading to Westin tomorrow morning. You can come if you feel up to it."

Merle turned and headed for her room, "Of course I'll be coming"

Van smiled and then turned and raced after his fiancé who was already down the steps.

"Hitomi!"

Hitomi just kept on walking.

Allen looked up from his book as he saw Hitomi walk by outside his bedroom door. He cocked his head to the side and caught her expression, she looked mad.

"Uh oh," he muttered throwing the book on his bed.

A few seconds later Van was running past the door calling for Hitomi.

"Great," Allen muttered again walking into the hall and jogging off after the couple, "Why do I somehow know Perlis is involved in this," he asked himself as he ran past Van in front of Hitomi and put his hand up.

"Alright what's going on?" he demanded

Van pulled up short just brushing Hitomi's shoulder, grabbing her arms as if to stop her he spun her around.

"Hitomi would you wait, we'll leave tomorrow morning, You have to wait for me to get everything ready. I promise we'll head out at first light," his voice was as soft as a whisper as the deep words echoed in her ears.

"Am I invisible?" Allen asked pulling Hitomi away from Van.

Keeping both at arms length he turned to Van, "Now," with that he faced Hitomi, "What happened?"

Hitomi was angry and on the verge of tears, "Perlis got Westin"

Allen dropped his arms and groaned, this was one hell of a month.

"He went to the mystic moon," Van started

Allen spun and bellowed, "He what?!?"

"He somehow managed to acquire some of my powers and he brought back Yukari"

"You're friend from the mystic moon?!" Allen questioned wide eyed.

Hitomi nodded shaking, "He's likely going to kill her!"

Van shook his head trying to comfort his fiancé, "Hitomi if he wanted her dead he wouldn't have thrown her in prison with Merle."

Allen snapped back into the conversation, "Merle?"

"She's back, and she's okay," Van said in a rush so Allen couldn't interrupt

"Why would he let her escape like that?" Allen asked frowning at Van, "He wanted us to find out about Yukari and I'd bet anything he's waiting for us."

"I don't care! This is my best friend we're talking about! I'm going!" Hitomi insisted.

Van pushed Allen out of the way and drew Hitomi into a hug, "Hitomi just give me tonight I promise we'll be out of her by tomorrow"

Hitomi was reluctant but gave in and whispered a yes. Pushing her back a little Van smiled down at her and lightly kissed her lips before turning to Allen.

"Allen-" he started but Allen put his hand up

"On it, the crusade won't make it in time neither will any of our allies though we're on our own if we leave tomorrow Van," Allen reasoned

Van's determined frown didn't fade, "So be it, I'll get the soldiers and-"

"And I'll have the supplies ready my dawn," he finished calling over his shoulder as he headed off to get ready

Van turned back to Hitomi and gave her a soft smile, "Don't worry love we'll have her safe and sound before you know it. Go see if Merle needs anything and I'll get the soldiers armed and ready."

Hitomi gave a weak smile up at her love and kissed his cheek before hurrying up the stairs to Merle. Van smiled after her and watched Hitomi disappear down the hall. Turning to the castle doors he pushed them open and ran down them.

He was going to track that coward down and run him through himself.

A/N Sorry this next chapter took so long! I really hope you enjoy it! Well they're off to save Yukari and run Perlis up the nearest tree. There's only one problem, what if Yukari doesn't think going with Van and Hitomi would be the best thing? Find out soon! Please R&R And have a great day!!!

Sailor Hope