Destiny's Gift
By Amanda Wardropper
The hidden angel.
Chapter 7 - Lake Fanderal, castle of New Fanailia, Fanailia forest.
It was the break of dawn when Hitomi was woken up by the sound of rustling in a nearby hedge row and Van's agitated grunts as he tried to pull on his, still wet, trousers. "Whoooooooah!" She winced as she heard a thud. Van had trodden on a patch of leaves and slipped on it.
"Van? What happened?" She said, in a drowsy voice.
Van's head emerged from under the hedge and he said, "Oh! You're awake." His head disappeared again and Hitomi propped herself up on one elbow. She began fastening her shirt buttons. She fastened her shoes and grabbed her blazer, it wasn't as wet as she thought.
Van strode around the hedge corner, clenching at the bruise on his arm. He stamped out the cooling embers and then held his hand out for Hitomi. "Come on, we better get back to the castle before they notice we're gone." He pulled her up gently, ran and jumped into Escaflowne. He lifted her up and started their journey home.
Their flight home was a quiet one with neither of them making an attempt to talk or make eye contact.
Van had Escaflowne hover outside Hitomi's room, he stood up to give her a hand down onto the balcony. When she'd stood he leaned forward to kiss her again. She pushed him away.
"Huh!?!"
"I'm sorry Van." She said in a calm voice and skipped onto the balcony. She walked into the room, closing the door behind her.
Later that day.
It was late afternoon when Hitomi found some time to herself. She had been busy helping out in the main hall repairing damage. She decided to use her time wisely and go for an energetic run. She got out of her, now grubby, uniform, I'll have to get that washed, she thought and got changed into her shorts and, seen as it was a warm afternoon, her backless top, she could feel the gentle breeze on her skin as she ran through the beautiful gardens of New Fanailia.
After her run she stopped off at the fountain to drink. It was then that she realized that she had avoided Van all day, she was pleased because it gave her time to vent her anger at him, I'm way too young for this, she thought.
Van had been busy all day with reports on damage repair and a Lord Holder
meeting. They were saying that he must find a queen and that young lady he was dancing with, last night, might be queen material. He didn't want to be reminded of Hitomi right now. Was it the right time, or should I have waited, he wondered as he made his way through the corridor. It seemed ages before he reached the end of the fire lit walk way. He needed to be outside in the fresh air, near the water fountain.
He walked round the corner and spotted a figure drinking from the fountain. On further inspection he came to the conclusion that it was Hitomi. He hadn't seen her all day and got the feeling that she was avoiding him.
Hitomi heard a noise behind her. It was a sword sheath. She then heard a soft voice say, "Hitomi, is that you?" It was Van, so much for me avoiding him, she thought, soarly. She slowly straightened up in acknowledgment. Van walked up behind her. He reached his hand out to caress her, but drew it back swiftly and sighed. "I'm sorry about last night."
He moved his hand from behind her and placed it in the air infront of her face. It was clasped, so something was in it. She drew her hand under his and he placed an item in it. He clasped it shut. He held her hand for a short moment and took it back unwillingly. He then turned on his feet and ran back to the walk way, he disappeared. His footsteps could be heard echoing through the courtyard.
Hitomi opened her hand and her eyes widened, the green colouring sparkling like jewels. There, in the palm of her hand, lay a lush, red flower, much like an Earth rose, with speckles of dew on it as a light rain had fallen earlier that day. She blinked away the tears that formed in her eyes, I can't stay mad at him, I love him. She turned her head to where Van had stood and smiled, she turned round again and could make out a green light on the horizon. She stepped back, clenching the flower, her vision had told her of a green dragon destroying Escaflowne and Van in a powerful blast of flame. "No!!" She turned and ran back the way Van had went, hoping to find him.
She ended up at the door to Escaflowne's hanger, she could hear the grinding of it's gears. Van!!! She opened the door and stood, silhouetted, in the entrance just as Escaflowne was winging it's way out of the hanger.
Van was so wrapped up in the report he'd just received that he didn't notice Hitomi.
She sprinted back through the corridors. There has to be something I can do ... or else he'll ... A tear trickled down her cheek.
"Hitomi!" She nearly charged into Merle, "What's wrong?"
"It's Van."
"Lord Van! What's going to happen to him?"
"No time to explain, come on." They picked up the pace again.
"Merle, is that you?"
"Jason! He'll help us."
"What do you mean?" He said.
"You gotta help us, Jason. Something bad is going to happen to Lord Van." Hitomi nodded in agreement.
"What's going to happen to Van?"
"He's going to die if we don't help him." Hitomi replied. Merle gasped.
"Come on then, what are you waiting for, lets get to the roof." Jason said sharply.
They dashed up to the roof and were shocked by the sight that was unfolding before them. There, in the distance, was a huge green fire, in the shape of a dragon, flying just above an army of Zaibech guymelifs, which had already been met by Fanailia's melif units.
"Where's Lord Van, Hitomi?" Merle screamed.
Hitomi concentrated on Van and the pendant. "He's fighting the dragon!" She exclaimed. "Jason, what should we do?"
He brushed away his blonde forelock, an action which reminded her of Van, in deep thought and answered, "I don't normally do this, but seen as a lady as fair as you, Hitomi, asked me." He paused and smiled at her.
He summoned his guymelif, Kayleeth. It rose up to the roof level and he motioned for the two girls to climb aboard. "Lets go save Van!" He shouted, when they were aboard. Red Kayleeth reared and backed away from the roof.
It didn't take long to get a glimpse of Van's Escaflowne. "Hang on, I'm taking us in!" Jason exclaimed. His red Kayleeth seemed to speed up rapidly but the trio were jerked back suddenly when Kayleeth reared in terror. The two girls let out a panic stricken scream as they saw the enormous, green dragon shoot a powerful blast of flame which caught Escaflowne's left wing full on, burning it to cinders and causing the white dragon to fall awkwardly to the forest floor.
"Van!" The three of them shouted in unison. Kayleeth nose dived to catch the guymelif before it hit the ground, but they missed and made an emergency landing not far from where Van's Escaflowne had fallen.
They rushed to the scene. Van's body lay limp on the floor where he had been thrown ruthlessly off of his mount. "No." Hitomi whispered to herself. She ran down the hillock to Van's side and put her hand on his shoulder, "Oh, Van, wake up, Van!" Tears stung her eyes and it seemed like the darkening sky turned totally black. A tear fell from her cheek and landed on his arm. He let out a
heavy groan and turned onto his back, clenching his side. He winced at the pain but he managed to recognize Hitomi's concerned face. "Hitomi?" He said, still not quite believing that she was here. "I thought for sure you wouldn't ... not after .." She removed his hand from his injury and placed hers on it. He tensed up, her hand was soft but cold. She smiled and said, "Don't be silly Van, I love you and I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you." He looked into her eyes, they were still filled with tears from the shock. He smiled back at her and placed her free hand in his, ignoring the pain, he gave it a weak squeeze before Merle's voice interrupted. "Lord Van!" She shouted in jubilation. They looked round and saw Merle and Jason running towards them. They stopped suddenly and Merle cried, "Watch out!" Van and Hitomi turned their heads to be confronted by a snout and a hollow eye. It was the green dragon and it was lifting up it's head to charge a flame.
Before she knew what she was doing, Hitomi stepped over Van, who was staring after her. She stood infront of him, arms wide spread and shouted up to the dragon, "I won't let you take him!" To this the dragon lowered it's head and emitted a strong burst of fire, headed straight for Hitomi. She stuck her chest out to cushion the blow and arched her back. She felt a strange tingling sensation in her shoulder blades, then a sharp pain raged through her back, she screamed until she had to take a deep breath, which caused more pain, then, suddenly, she saw feathers float past her in the wind current as she grew, pure white angel wings.
While the others watched on in surprise, Van picked himself up and spread his own wings wearily. He launched himself infront of her, he clasped her waist, drawing her closer, it was no use now to try and push them away, he'd have to bare the brunt of the flame, he braced himself and tightened his grip around Hitomi. She realized what was happening and pushed her upper body to his to help brace both of them from the charging flames.
Their shared intimacy and proximity had built a new, stronger bond between them which was reflected in the ruby in Hitomi's short pocket. The gem began to glow a deep red and, all of a sudden, began emitting beams of red light which formed a pillar of light around the two angels.
Merle and Jason watched on in horror as the green flames swallowed Van and Hitomi's bodies.
Inside the pillar of light the two found that they were untouched by the fire seething past them, but their embrace did not slacken, they still held each other closely. When the flames had past, the pillar of light morphed into a ray which struck the green dragon on the snout. It let out a shriek and swiftly retreated through the forest. The light dimmed and the ruby returned to normal in her pocket. Hitomi became limp in Van's arms momentarily as her wings molded back into her skin.
He stroked her cheek and smiled down at her as she looked up. She steadied him as he clung to his side, wincing at his own pain. "What happened?" He asked her, "And why ..." He was cut off when Merle and Jason came up beside them.
"Lets get you back to the castle, Van." Jason said.
"What about Escaflowne?" He turned to face the curled up, badly damaged heap that was his guymelif, the white dragon.
"Don't worry my red Kayleeth can handle us all."
By Amanda Wardropper
The hidden angel.
Chapter 7 - Lake Fanderal, castle of New Fanailia, Fanailia forest.
It was the break of dawn when Hitomi was woken up by the sound of rustling in a nearby hedge row and Van's agitated grunts as he tried to pull on his, still wet, trousers. "Whoooooooah!" She winced as she heard a thud. Van had trodden on a patch of leaves and slipped on it.
"Van? What happened?" She said, in a drowsy voice.
Van's head emerged from under the hedge and he said, "Oh! You're awake." His head disappeared again and Hitomi propped herself up on one elbow. She began fastening her shirt buttons. She fastened her shoes and grabbed her blazer, it wasn't as wet as she thought.
Van strode around the hedge corner, clenching at the bruise on his arm. He stamped out the cooling embers and then held his hand out for Hitomi. "Come on, we better get back to the castle before they notice we're gone." He pulled her up gently, ran and jumped into Escaflowne. He lifted her up and started their journey home.
Their flight home was a quiet one with neither of them making an attempt to talk or make eye contact.
Van had Escaflowne hover outside Hitomi's room, he stood up to give her a hand down onto the balcony. When she'd stood he leaned forward to kiss her again. She pushed him away.
"Huh!?!"
"I'm sorry Van." She said in a calm voice and skipped onto the balcony. She walked into the room, closing the door behind her.
Later that day.
It was late afternoon when Hitomi found some time to herself. She had been busy helping out in the main hall repairing damage. She decided to use her time wisely and go for an energetic run. She got out of her, now grubby, uniform, I'll have to get that washed, she thought and got changed into her shorts and, seen as it was a warm afternoon, her backless top, she could feel the gentle breeze on her skin as she ran through the beautiful gardens of New Fanailia.
After her run she stopped off at the fountain to drink. It was then that she realized that she had avoided Van all day, she was pleased because it gave her time to vent her anger at him, I'm way too young for this, she thought.
Van had been busy all day with reports on damage repair and a Lord Holder
meeting. They were saying that he must find a queen and that young lady he was dancing with, last night, might be queen material. He didn't want to be reminded of Hitomi right now. Was it the right time, or should I have waited, he wondered as he made his way through the corridor. It seemed ages before he reached the end of the fire lit walk way. He needed to be outside in the fresh air, near the water fountain.
He walked round the corner and spotted a figure drinking from the fountain. On further inspection he came to the conclusion that it was Hitomi. He hadn't seen her all day and got the feeling that she was avoiding him.
Hitomi heard a noise behind her. It was a sword sheath. She then heard a soft voice say, "Hitomi, is that you?" It was Van, so much for me avoiding him, she thought, soarly. She slowly straightened up in acknowledgment. Van walked up behind her. He reached his hand out to caress her, but drew it back swiftly and sighed. "I'm sorry about last night."
He moved his hand from behind her and placed it in the air infront of her face. It was clasped, so something was in it. She drew her hand under his and he placed an item in it. He clasped it shut. He held her hand for a short moment and took it back unwillingly. He then turned on his feet and ran back to the walk way, he disappeared. His footsteps could be heard echoing through the courtyard.
Hitomi opened her hand and her eyes widened, the green colouring sparkling like jewels. There, in the palm of her hand, lay a lush, red flower, much like an Earth rose, with speckles of dew on it as a light rain had fallen earlier that day. She blinked away the tears that formed in her eyes, I can't stay mad at him, I love him. She turned her head to where Van had stood and smiled, she turned round again and could make out a green light on the horizon. She stepped back, clenching the flower, her vision had told her of a green dragon destroying Escaflowne and Van in a powerful blast of flame. "No!!" She turned and ran back the way Van had went, hoping to find him.
She ended up at the door to Escaflowne's hanger, she could hear the grinding of it's gears. Van!!! She opened the door and stood, silhouetted, in the entrance just as Escaflowne was winging it's way out of the hanger.
Van was so wrapped up in the report he'd just received that he didn't notice Hitomi.
She sprinted back through the corridors. There has to be something I can do ... or else he'll ... A tear trickled down her cheek.
"Hitomi!" She nearly charged into Merle, "What's wrong?"
"It's Van."
"Lord Van! What's going to happen to him?"
"No time to explain, come on." They picked up the pace again.
"Merle, is that you?"
"Jason! He'll help us."
"What do you mean?" He said.
"You gotta help us, Jason. Something bad is going to happen to Lord Van." Hitomi nodded in agreement.
"What's going to happen to Van?"
"He's going to die if we don't help him." Hitomi replied. Merle gasped.
"Come on then, what are you waiting for, lets get to the roof." Jason said sharply.
They dashed up to the roof and were shocked by the sight that was unfolding before them. There, in the distance, was a huge green fire, in the shape of a dragon, flying just above an army of Zaibech guymelifs, which had already been met by Fanailia's melif units.
"Where's Lord Van, Hitomi?" Merle screamed.
Hitomi concentrated on Van and the pendant. "He's fighting the dragon!" She exclaimed. "Jason, what should we do?"
He brushed away his blonde forelock, an action which reminded her of Van, in deep thought and answered, "I don't normally do this, but seen as a lady as fair as you, Hitomi, asked me." He paused and smiled at her.
He summoned his guymelif, Kayleeth. It rose up to the roof level and he motioned for the two girls to climb aboard. "Lets go save Van!" He shouted, when they were aboard. Red Kayleeth reared and backed away from the roof.
It didn't take long to get a glimpse of Van's Escaflowne. "Hang on, I'm taking us in!" Jason exclaimed. His red Kayleeth seemed to speed up rapidly but the trio were jerked back suddenly when Kayleeth reared in terror. The two girls let out a panic stricken scream as they saw the enormous, green dragon shoot a powerful blast of flame which caught Escaflowne's left wing full on, burning it to cinders and causing the white dragon to fall awkwardly to the forest floor.
"Van!" The three of them shouted in unison. Kayleeth nose dived to catch the guymelif before it hit the ground, but they missed and made an emergency landing not far from where Van's Escaflowne had fallen.
They rushed to the scene. Van's body lay limp on the floor where he had been thrown ruthlessly off of his mount. "No." Hitomi whispered to herself. She ran down the hillock to Van's side and put her hand on his shoulder, "Oh, Van, wake up, Van!" Tears stung her eyes and it seemed like the darkening sky turned totally black. A tear fell from her cheek and landed on his arm. He let out a
heavy groan and turned onto his back, clenching his side. He winced at the pain but he managed to recognize Hitomi's concerned face. "Hitomi?" He said, still not quite believing that she was here. "I thought for sure you wouldn't ... not after .." She removed his hand from his injury and placed hers on it. He tensed up, her hand was soft but cold. She smiled and said, "Don't be silly Van, I love you and I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you." He looked into her eyes, they were still filled with tears from the shock. He smiled back at her and placed her free hand in his, ignoring the pain, he gave it a weak squeeze before Merle's voice interrupted. "Lord Van!" She shouted in jubilation. They looked round and saw Merle and Jason running towards them. They stopped suddenly and Merle cried, "Watch out!" Van and Hitomi turned their heads to be confronted by a snout and a hollow eye. It was the green dragon and it was lifting up it's head to charge a flame.
Before she knew what she was doing, Hitomi stepped over Van, who was staring after her. She stood infront of him, arms wide spread and shouted up to the dragon, "I won't let you take him!" To this the dragon lowered it's head and emitted a strong burst of fire, headed straight for Hitomi. She stuck her chest out to cushion the blow and arched her back. She felt a strange tingling sensation in her shoulder blades, then a sharp pain raged through her back, she screamed until she had to take a deep breath, which caused more pain, then, suddenly, she saw feathers float past her in the wind current as she grew, pure white angel wings.
While the others watched on in surprise, Van picked himself up and spread his own wings wearily. He launched himself infront of her, he clasped her waist, drawing her closer, it was no use now to try and push them away, he'd have to bare the brunt of the flame, he braced himself and tightened his grip around Hitomi. She realized what was happening and pushed her upper body to his to help brace both of them from the charging flames.
Their shared intimacy and proximity had built a new, stronger bond between them which was reflected in the ruby in Hitomi's short pocket. The gem began to glow a deep red and, all of a sudden, began emitting beams of red light which formed a pillar of light around the two angels.
Merle and Jason watched on in horror as the green flames swallowed Van and Hitomi's bodies.
Inside the pillar of light the two found that they were untouched by the fire seething past them, but their embrace did not slacken, they still held each other closely. When the flames had past, the pillar of light morphed into a ray which struck the green dragon on the snout. It let out a shriek and swiftly retreated through the forest. The light dimmed and the ruby returned to normal in her pocket. Hitomi became limp in Van's arms momentarily as her wings molded back into her skin.
He stroked her cheek and smiled down at her as she looked up. She steadied him as he clung to his side, wincing at his own pain. "What happened?" He asked her, "And why ..." He was cut off when Merle and Jason came up beside them.
"Lets get you back to the castle, Van." Jason said.
"What about Escaflowne?" He turned to face the curled up, badly damaged heap that was his guymelif, the white dragon.
"Don't worry my red Kayleeth can handle us all."