~Summoner of Escaflowne's Mystic Eyes~

Chapter 12

Eight of Swords-helplessness, inablility to control the current situation and having to just let things happen



Was it all just a dream? Or maybe a vision? No it was real. As Sou and Seiji began to weave their spell Van appeared in front of us. He fought with more strength and speed than I have ever seen or heard of in a human, but he couldn't defeat Sou and Seiji who had trapped the rest of us in an invisible chamber. Suddenly Van started talking to himself while the triclopses were suspended in midair and the walls of the invisible chamber were broken down. How did that happen?...



Before the spirits of Van's predecessors gradually vanished they carried the triclopses out into the wilderness. Van stood in the catacombs calling out to his brother who had disappeared. The others were standing where the spirits had left them, puzzled. Celena was the first to speak.



"Excuse me, Van, but what just happened?" she asked in a quiet voice.



As Van explained the presence of his ancestors' souls Yobi stopped him to ask another question.



"Wait a second! If your family's ghosts saved us why didn't they get rid of those two things and do us all a big favor!?"



"The answer is soo obvious, Obi!" replied Merle condescendingly. "The inhabitants of the spirit world can do a lot of things but they can't kill! They have power over objects but they can't take or change lives! If they could, they'd live forever! Everyone knows that!"



"First of all, Cat, the name's Yobi, and excuse me for not knowing that! In case you don't remember I'm not from here, and on Earth adults don't tell kids stories about ghosts are true! They have better things to do."



"Grr...I'm gonna use you as a scratching post!" declared Merle as she leapt toward the youth. Unfortunately for her Van held her back.



"We don't have time for this Merle. We should all get some sleep so we can figure out what to do next tomorrow. So let's get back to the castle."



The weary group trudged back into the castle and went their separate ways. Yobi, Celena and Allen walked ahead of Van, Merle and Hitomi. The first three soon disappeared around the corner of the hallways and left the remaining three to take their time going to their rooms. Van and Hitomi strolled down the halls, Merle walking between the two of them, chattering incessantly about one thing or another. She often caught Van glancing at Hitomi when he thought no one was looking. Hitomi was a bit less obvious in her admiration. She frequently looked up at portions of the ceilings and walls, adorned with mirrors, and caught glimpses of the Dragon King.



The trio stopped at Merle's room where they said their goodnights to the not so little cat girl, and continued forward. They walked in silence until Van realized he would have to be the one to start a conversation, otherwise the stroll would end in silence. "Hitomi."



"Yes, Van?"



" I know we haven't talked much since you got here and-"



"It's ok Van. You're a king now and have responsibilities. I realize we aren't in the same situation as we were in before. Last time the only people in your immediate care were Merle and I. Now a whole country is counting on you. What kind of...friend would I be if I didn't understand that and accept it?" asked Hitomi, giving the boy, she still loved, a small smile.



Van heart ached when he heard her words. They implied that he was no more than a friend to her. Nevertheless, he was grateful for that and wholeheartedly thanked her.



"Well, I really wanted to know how you're doing, Hitomi. You don't seem like yourself."

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"Mistresses, may I ask you who that old man is?"



"He was a man who wanted an ideal future for his country..." started Nariya



"And he killed to get it. He is a vile wretch who saved the life of a noble soul, only to take it back." continued Eriya.



"You would know him by the name of...Dornkirk, Emperor of all Zaibach."



The guard was speechless. "That old man ruled Zaibach!? I thought Emperor Dornkirk died during the Gaen War."



"Many of us thought the same thing." replied Nariya



"Evidently, we were wrong when we assumed that he passed away."



"I was told the tale of his death many times after the war. My friends told me he had been killed by Folken Lakur de Fanel, one of the Kings of Fanelia."



"We know not how he is alive, only he can tell you how that came to pass, but we have all seen him today and can confirm his presence." declared Eriya.



"Send a scout to follow him and inform us of his whereabouts and actions." ordered Nariya.

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A few hours away, from the home of the cat girls, lay another camp. Various types of creatures roamed the camp but there were no humans in sight. In an inconspicuous tent, that stood at the outskirts of the camp, Sou and Seiji were making their plans.



"What shall we do now, my dearest brother?" questioned Sou.



"I have been pondering that question for sometime now, sister. It appears that the Lady Hitomi is better guarded than we originally thought. Those foolish friends of hers are beginning to realize their own magical abilities."



"Yes, I know that. First the Knight, I believe his ability is to transport people. Then the Cat, she has recalled the ancient practices of her people, she has called upon her shamanic powers. Now the Dragon! His gymelf has increased his dominant traits of strength and speed. We cannot let this continue for much longer, brother!"



"If we do not find a way to capture the Savior before they all reach their full potential it will become very difficult to succeed. Yet, my sister, you must admit that it is quite amusing that they have shown their powers now."



"That is true, brother. If they had known about their abilities during the Gaen War they could have changed the outcome."



"We are deterring from the subject, sister. We must find another way to capture the Lady. Perhaps we could call upon-"



"Master Seiji! Mistress Sou!! We've apprehended a spy!"



"A spy?" asked Sou, disbelievingly. "How? Surely you are mistaken!"



"He refuses to disclose to us his mission but we found him hiding in the bushes!"



"We commend your actions, Captain! Take him to the Pit, we will be there shortly."



"Yes sir!"



"This appears to be our lucky day, sister. The information we will soon extract from this spy will greatly strengthen our plans."



"I agree, brother. Shall we go now and show this spy how we obtain information?"



"Let's be on our way then."

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The scout who had followed Furousha struggled against the ropes binding him. He was ignorant of who his captors were or what they wanted with him, but he knew that, as a loyal friend to Nariya and Eriya, he would not divulge his mission or the mystery that was Furousha's past. Or at least those were his thoughts before he laid his eyes upon the Pit.



The scout knew he would discover what true pain was today.

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A/N: hey all!! Yea I know this took a while. Sorry about that! My internet connection was down then FFN was messed up as you know. Well to all of you still reading I hope you liked it. Tell me if anything is...wrong...like if its not consistent with the original storyline let me know please!! I really haven't seen the whole series so it would help me some! Well anyway you guys know what to do..or not do...c ya later! Toodles!!

~IndianBabeIII~