Dragon Burn
By Amanda Wardropper
Fallen angels
Chapter 12- Castle of New Fanailia
He found her, leaning against a tree, pouring her eyes out in her hands. She'd folded her wings back in and was now at a loose end.
"Lady Hitomi?" Jason asked through the trees.
Her head shot up and she looked towards him as he came into view. "What do you want, Jason? If you've come on, Van's behalf it won't work."
"I haven't, I've come as a friend, on neutural ground." She considered him for a moment, "I think it was horrid of him to do what he did to you." He was trying his best to see from both point of views, in the hope he might find the solution.
She broke down in tears again. He walked over to her and put an arm round her shoulders, "It's OK, cry all you want, I'm here." She did. No words were exchanged between the two, they weren't needed.
After a while, Jason said, "Come on, I'll take you back to the castle and you can have all the drinks on me." The kitchens where a skeleton staff was running the place due to the gather. It was getting darker now, but the dancing would carry on through the night and well into the day.
"No, no thanks, Jason, I kindda just want to go for a walk." She really wanted to go home now, either that or kill herself, knowing that Van didn't care for her was enough of a reason to stop living.
"Are you sure, do you want me to come with you." He'd seen this sort of thing before, as much as he trusted her he didn't want to chance it if there was a solution.
She smiled up at him, between the tears, "Don't worry, I'm not going to try and kill myself." She meant it but the last part she didn't, "It'll take more than Van to bring me down."
In her eyes, he could tell she was lying the second time, a hurt like this was as serious as an injury through fighting, only this went a lot deeper. However, he didn't want it to seem like he was trying to get her to forgive Van so he decided that maybe it was better for her to be alone for a little while, "OK, but don't be too long, Allen and the otehrs will get worried."
"Thanks." She whispered.
Hitomi walked down the path, it wasn't a main one so it wasn't lit. It was a cold night and clouds were gathering beside the moons. It looked like there would be rain, she didn't care, it couldn't get any lower than this. She stopped in her tracks when she heard a lower, snarling sound from deep within a creatures throat.
He stood infront of the collossal forest dragon. What was the use in living if she hated his guts. He planned on ending it here and now. He didn't care about the country he ruled, or the friends he had, all that mattered was that she hated him. With reason he thought. He clutched the whispering morning flower she had given him in his palm. In the other, he held his sword. Van stared deep into the yellow eyes of a male forest dragon. In a quick movement, he slung his sword to one side and called to the great beast, "Yo! Dragon, I'm over here, you want me? Then come on! Take me!" This was the one way he felt honorable and all clear to die, at the hands of the creature he spoke for. As pilot of the Ispano guymelif, Escaflowne, the great Dragon god of Fanailia. A tear trickled down his cheek and his voice began to quiver, "Come on, what are you waiting for? I'm here, you're hungry, so come on!"
The dragon obediently raised it's ugly head to the sky and bellowed a challenge. Van whinced at the dull thud the sound made in his chest. This was it, live by the dragon, die by the dragon. An ancient prophecy that was handed down to each pilot of the Escaflowne. Only one would ever see it through.
She watched from the trees as the young king called out his demands to the dragon. Was this how she wanted it? She didn't know anymore, her walk had done no good to clear her feelings. She cried out in anguish as the dragon began charging it's flame.
His anger boiled and surged through him as the dragon delayed his life a breath longer, he wanted it to end now! He could hear his heart beating against his chest and echoeing through his ears. Suddenly, a cry from behind him alerted him of a presence. He'd recognize her voice anywhere, but what was she doing here?
Jason ran swiftly through the thick underbrush. He had heard Hitomi cry out and the dragon's low growl. He unsheathed his sword as he burst into the clearing. "I don't believe this," He said as he took in the scene, "He's sacrificing himself to a dragon!" He launched himself into the night sky, sword held high. He brought it down, with all his strength, between the dragons' vertabri. The beast was now paralized to the spot and the gullets connection with it's fire pouch was destroyed.
"What are you doing!" Van screamed as Jason landed on the ground.
"Saving your butt! What does it look like?" He answered in a heated tone.
"Why can't you let me die in solitude!?!" Van came back with.
"Die!" Jason boomed, "Van, you idiot! You can't die, your people need you!"
"Need me!" he scoffed, "I don't care!" He lowered his tone as his voice quivered, "What's the point in living."
"What's the point?" Jason lowered his tone aswell, "Van, if you die, you can't even attempt to patch things up with, Hitomi."
Van looked away, "What's the point, she made it all clear."
Jason growled to himself, Van was being stupid and not seeing any sense. He launched himself at the Draconian and struck him down on a fist.
Van's head jerked to one side as the blow hit him. He staggered back a few paces.
"Has that knocked some sense into you!" This wasn't Jason Dende, knight Arkayl speaking, it was Jason Dende, Dragonslayer.
Van held his chin and cheek, "What's the use?"
Another blow came his way and he fell to the ground. He picked himself up.
"I'm doing this for your own good, Van. You have to see sense, if you die, then who will protect her? Even if it's against her will." He took a calming breath.
Van didn't answer.
Hitomi watched as Jason struck Van for the second time. She couldn't hear the words and didn't even know why Jason was doing what he was doing. She could see the dragon behind them wryth in terror and frustration. But, then again, why should she care about what happened to Van? A shiver ran down her spine as the beast roared in anger.
Van and Jason cringed as the dragon bellowed. His anger heated to it's maximum point, Van growled. "Shut up!" He screamed at the dragon. He thrust his hands forward and launched a powerful beam of light from the centre of his palms, the ripping pain hardly registered in him as his wings were brought forth to balance this new power.
She gasped as the ray of light struck the dragon. It seemed to keen heavily and fall down, under it's weight. Then it's skin started to dissolve infront of the three until it's bones were left. She felt nauseous as the bones split and fragmented into tinier pieces before dissapearing completely. Van whirled around to face where she was hiding. Hitomi wanted to cry out, his wings were a deep red colour and pulsed. The worst was his eyes, the eyes she found fascinating had a glint of something evil in them. It was dark magic. His face was unwelcoming and scared her more than his eyes and pulsing wings.
His laboured breathing continued as he studied her, crouched in the undergrowth. He could see everything, he felt like his vision had become that of the dragons, slit and capable of seeing almost the tiniest detail from this far. His heart beat in time to the pulsing of his wings, he could feel the dull thuds in his chest. He didn't quite comprehend what had just happened, he'd seen the dragon dissintergrate, he'd felt the pain of his wings pulsing and the pain of that strange beam of light from his palms.
She felt naked infront of his, all seeing, gaze, her soul bare to his piercing look. Without realizing it, her breathing became faster, the look was frightening. Those eyes, those eyes that had so lovingly looked upon her exposed flesh that night, were now steel traps inwhich she was caught in. The black magic that danced in them burned with a fury she feared would over power him.
All of a sudden a gripping pain raced through his body. Van cried out as it intensified. Every muscle in his chest tightened as the white hot pain surged through him. The whites of his eyes rolled in terror, what was happening?
Strange, almost airy voices penetrated through the never ending pain, *Forgive, forgive, betray, forgive.* He didn't know what they were talking about, *Will not work, will not work, forgive, forgive, betray, forgive!* The voices rose in pitch. They seemed to go on and repeat an ancient prophecy, *When the Star Wanderer returns, the lost souls unite. Therein lies the firestorm, the bond must be forged and broken by both, but one has the power to make all the difference to both his people!* Their words echoed through his mind, *That which was the dragons', we now bestowed unto you, Knight of Dragons.* The pain rose in intensity. He feared that it would kill him. *Their powers combined can command the blood line, remember, Knight of Dragons, that together your powers could bring forth great turmoil, but we place our faith in your hearts, may they always beat strongly and as one.* The voices faded away and he collapsed to the floor in relief as the pain followed them, what were they talking about?
Hitomi heard the strange, unearthly, voices and she pondered over it, anything to escape those penetrating eyes when they were turned on her. She thought of the Star Wanderer and of the Knight of Dragons. The knight was obviously Van, but the Star Wanderer, was it her? What did they mean by forgive and betray? She cried out as Van collapsed to the ground.
This time Jason heard her scream, as clear as day. He watched his friend crumble onto the ground. "Van!" He slung his sword into it's sheath and kneeled down to help the young warrior up. He also watched Hitomi burst out from her hiding place, she came up beside him and, together, they helped Van up. He was barely concious, his eyes were glazed over, like he was in a trance. Jason grabbed Van's sword and dropped it in the sheath. It was loose, but for now, it would have to do. They helped the young king back to, the nearly deserted, castle. This was going to cause an uproar, he had told her.
Early Morning.
Hitomi tossed and turned in her sleep. After taking Van to the infirmary, Jason had offered to stay with him while Hitomi got some rest. She had returned to her room and all but collapsed herself from exhaustion. She had a restless night. Her thoughts were haunted by ghosts of nightmares.
With a sudden jolt she was brought back to reality. She sat up straight in her bed, a cold sweat running down her forhead and into her eyes. She wiped it away with a hand as she willed her breathing to slow down.
A knock on the chamber door alerted her of someones presence. "Who is it?" She asked, shakily.
"Hitomi! Wake up you lazy thing! What happened to Lord Van?"
Hitomi groaned as Merle burst through the door. She didn't want to talk about it. Last night, when she had gotten to bed and before falling asleep, she had cried for, seemingly, ages. She didn't know what to do, where her true feelings lay, she was confused and frightened. The look in his eyes, when they had turned on her, was enough to pierce her heart a thousand times with needle sharp arrows. She had to sternly remind herself that that was not Van, but dark magic possessing him.
"Merle, what's wrong?"
"Lord Van is ill and I need to tell him something, but I'm not allowed to see him." The cat girl was near to tears. "What happened?"
"I don't know, Merle."
The cat studied her a moment, then spoke softly, clearly uncertain. "Hitomi, can I tell you something? And you promise you won't tell, Lord Van."
"Yeah, Merle, sure."
Outside, in the corridor, a lone kitchen drudge past the door to Hitomi's room. The laundry she was carrying errupted from her grasp as shouts and screams entered the morning atmosphere. She opened the door to the Mystic Moon girl's room and saw her and Merle dancing around the bed. They stopped and looked at her. "I'm sorry, was I interupting something?"
"Oh, no, Hilda." Merle replied. The maid ducked out and carried on with her work, starting by picking up the laundry she had been carrying.
"But that's great news, Merle!"
"I know, but I have to tell Lord Van."
"I'm sure he'll be overjoyed."
"I hope so, I also hope he's alright. Hitomi, would you do a tarot spread for me?"
"Oh, gee, Merle, I'm not sure that's a good idea, you should leave this out of fates arms." She answered, a little aprehensive.
"OK, but would you do me another favor? I guess only you and Jason will be allowed to see Lord Van. Would you go and see if he's alright for me?"
"Sure, Merle."
"Thank you, Hitomi." Merle hadn't been there when Hitomi had chucked her glass of ale over Van, and she didn't know anything of what happened.
Somewhere deep inside of her, Hitomi wanted to go see him, find out how he was, but why should she care, if he didn't care for her. The sound of the disembodied voices rang through her head, *Forgive, forgive, betray, forgive!*
When Merle left, Hitomi reached for her cards. "Maybe just one, to sort out this mess." She said to herself. The first one that came into her hand she turned over. The reversed Empress, "Maternal problems?" She gasped as she was surrounded by darkness. Three young figures came into view. "I know you," She said, pointing to each one in turn, "Naria, Aria, Folken." They dissapeared and she was surrounded by fire.
"No! I'm fine Jason!"
"Van, are you sure you feel well enough?"
"For the last time, yes!" Van was standing near the exit of the infirmary, where he had spent the night. "Besides, I have some things to do." He added, in a solumn voice.
Jason heaved a sigh, when Van got it in his head to do something, he'd see it through to the end, even if he was badly injured.
"Don't worry I'm fine." He answered the unspoken question. "I have to do this Jason, you said yourself that if I didn't, I'd regret it." he paused, "If it would make you feel better, I'll go down to the kitchens first, kay?"
"Alright, but I'm coming with you, I don't want you dying on me, especially when I changed your mind last time."
When they reached the kitchens, Tirone, Allen, Gaddes and his crew were there. Jason grabbed a mug of cocana, a coffee like drink. Van reached for a bowl, spoon and ladel. He ladelled the bowl full of a cereal, boiling in the hearth. He joined his friends at the long table, but sat to one side of them, lost in his own thoughts. He rolled the spoon around the bowl, staring at it. He was resting his head in the palm of his other hand, mulling over last nights events. Knight of dragons? Star Wanderer? He took a logical stab at the last. Hitomi. The name struck him like a dagger, how could she doubt his love? How could she think that that night didn't mean anything to him? Because he was foolish and mucked it all up, he shided himself.
He briefly cast a look to Tirone, he was sitting to one side of the group as well. Normally, the young white cat boy was energetic. Today, he seemed unusually subdued. The, usually, jet black stripes on him were now grey streaks, he didn't look too well.
Hitomi reached the infirmary towards midday. The nurse on duty there had told her that Van wasn't there, that he'd left with Jason. That's odd, Hitomi thought. She turned to go to the kitchens, she was starving.
Just as Van finally forced himself to start on his breakfast, a messenger came skidding into the kitchens. "Sir, Lord Van, sir."
"What is it, Nick?" Van asked, dissapointingly eyeing his, cooling, bowl of cereal.
"Sir, Zaibeche is heading our way. Around midday, a messenger came in with news of Zaibeche activerties. Like you ordered I was sent to let you know."
Van sighed, no food for him. "OK, Nick, tell the guards to start rounding everyone in the castle up. Tell them to shepherd them all to the fields at the back of the castle."
"Sir." Nick saluted and ran off to deliver his message.
"What was that all about?" Jason asked, downing the last of his drink.
"I can't explain now, but I need you all to help out. Start spreading the message." Now he needed to find Hitomi, he hoped this wasn't going to be too hard, she had to see sense, he needed her help.
He turned to go and find her when Jason put a restraining hand on his shoulder, "I hope I know what and where you are going first, Van?"
"You got it in one, Jason, please excuse me," He turned back to the door, "While I go to a fate worse than death." He turned back to his friend with a wry smile, "A woman!" With that he cantered off down the hallway.
Van thought he should check her room first, she might still be asleep.
Jason sent the rest to start their jobs. He wanted to do something first. He hoped this might make it easier for Hitomi to see sense. She was almost as stubbon as Van. He went in search for her. Just as he was heading out of the kitchens, Hitomi came round the corner. "Hitomi, I need to see you."
"Jason, what is it?"
"It's about Van."
"Oh ..." She sounded uninterested.
"Hitomi, please, you gotta listen to me, the guy is going insane." True enough, after turning suicidle on him last night, Van had been awake most of it argueing with Jason about why he didn't let him die. Crazy talk.
"So."
"Hitomi, don't you see," He pleaded, "It wasn't his fault!"
"I don't care, Jason!"
"Hitomi, please," He pushed, "Fine, I'll have to prove it to you." He took her in his arms and, before she could resist, kissed her soundly. When he released her he said bitterly, "That was what happened, only I'm not Areanna. The girl's a pig, Hitomi, Van would never fall for her."
She blinked at him. "If you want to, you can slap me." He suggested.
"I would," She replied in a whisper, "If you weren't making me try to see sense." She turned her gaze to the ground, "I've been so foolish, haven't I?" She looked back up to him, tears filling her eyes. "Jason, what am I going to do?"
"Simple," He said with resolve, "slap me, for overstepping the line, then go hunting Draconians. Infact, you literally just missed him, he's looking for you. On my advice." He added.
She smiled, a sad smile, "Thak you, Jason, I'm so sorry." With that she did as he asked and slapped him full on the face. She turned on her heels and fled.
Van sunk to the stoney ground on the castles steps, out in the main courtyard. He'd looked everywhere and couldn't find her. She wasn't in her room or with Merle. He'd looked back in the kitchens, but they were deserted. He was at a loose end now, he didn't know where to turn. All that he knew was that he had to find her. He was gasping for air, all he had been doing today was running around, desperately looking, but to no avail.
"Van! Van, where are you? I know you're here! Remember, I have the pendant!" Came a feminine voice from afar. It had a ring of detress in it. His head shot up, along with the rest of him as he strained to find her.
"Hitomi!" He cried out as he leapt down the steps, two, three at a time. He didn't care about the pain of his sword sheath hitting against a bruise on his leg, all that mattered was finding her, and not mucking it up this time.
"Hitomi!" He caught sight of her, turning to his voice.
"Van!" She called back, just as enthusiastically.
He caught up to her and held his hands, palm up, infront of him, pleading for his sanity. "Hitomi, please, I'm so sorry, I ... I don't know what to say that will make you change your mind." He was breathless, but he didn't care. "It was all my fault."
Her face turned serious, "You don't have to lie to me, Van Fanel, to win back my love. I don't want you covering that little Bitch's tracks."
He stared at her in surprise. He'd never heard her swear before. She stared back at him, "Oh come on, you fardling fool!"
"Hitomi ..." He smiled a little, "You've been on Gaea way too long."
Her expression softened, "I'm sorry I called you a ... what I called you." She looked away, "I had no right to." Tears glistened in her eyes.
He couldn't stand to see the pain in them any longer. He stepped forward and enfolded her in his arms. "You don't have to be, I deserved it." He could weep for joy right then, it had seemed so easy to apologize, yet so difficult.
She shook her head against his chest, "No, Van, I was wrong, I was wrong about everything." She whimpered softly against him.
"Shhh, Hitomi, you were right, I am a fardling fool! And I'm not just saying that, I truely am one, believing that I had lost your love and that my life was worthless." A tear rolled down his cheek, "I'm sorry." He whispered.
"You mean you were going to ... by a dragon?" She looked up at him. He wasn't smiling, his expression was solumn and sober. She dropped her head back down, tears were now coursing the length of her cheek and neck, "Van, no!" She drolled, "Not because of me?" She gasped back a sob, "No!"
He watched her cry her heart out for a while before lifting her chin, with a finger, to face him.
She looked into his eyes, the magic was still there, it was just dormant. It was frightening to think of how intense his glare was when this power was awakened, such was the gift of the Knight of Dragons. It came to her in a flash, instinct let the pieces fall into place, the ruby, the dragon, the voices, star wanderer and knight of dragons. Such was the fate of the Atlantians and their experiment.
A smile crossed his lips, "Now, this fardling fool kindda needs a little help here to save a planet ... again."
"What do you mean?"
"The green dragon will strike tonight!" The smile vanished, "We have to stop it from destroying Gaea."
"How?" She breathed. She gasped as understanding settled in. "The ruby, the dragon fountian, the writings." There was something else, "The prophecy."
*When the Star Wanderer returns. The lost souls unite. Therein lies the firestorm, the bond must be forged and broken by both, but one has the power to make all the difference to his peoples.*
She whispered under her breath the last part of what the voices had to say, "That which was the dragons, we now bestow unto you, Knight of Dragons." The Dark magic.
By Amanda Wardropper
Fallen angels
Chapter 12- Castle of New Fanailia
He found her, leaning against a tree, pouring her eyes out in her hands. She'd folded her wings back in and was now at a loose end.
"Lady Hitomi?" Jason asked through the trees.
Her head shot up and she looked towards him as he came into view. "What do you want, Jason? If you've come on, Van's behalf it won't work."
"I haven't, I've come as a friend, on neutural ground." She considered him for a moment, "I think it was horrid of him to do what he did to you." He was trying his best to see from both point of views, in the hope he might find the solution.
She broke down in tears again. He walked over to her and put an arm round her shoulders, "It's OK, cry all you want, I'm here." She did. No words were exchanged between the two, they weren't needed.
After a while, Jason said, "Come on, I'll take you back to the castle and you can have all the drinks on me." The kitchens where a skeleton staff was running the place due to the gather. It was getting darker now, but the dancing would carry on through the night and well into the day.
"No, no thanks, Jason, I kindda just want to go for a walk." She really wanted to go home now, either that or kill herself, knowing that Van didn't care for her was enough of a reason to stop living.
"Are you sure, do you want me to come with you." He'd seen this sort of thing before, as much as he trusted her he didn't want to chance it if there was a solution.
She smiled up at him, between the tears, "Don't worry, I'm not going to try and kill myself." She meant it but the last part she didn't, "It'll take more than Van to bring me down."
In her eyes, he could tell she was lying the second time, a hurt like this was as serious as an injury through fighting, only this went a lot deeper. However, he didn't want it to seem like he was trying to get her to forgive Van so he decided that maybe it was better for her to be alone for a little while, "OK, but don't be too long, Allen and the otehrs will get worried."
"Thanks." She whispered.
Hitomi walked down the path, it wasn't a main one so it wasn't lit. It was a cold night and clouds were gathering beside the moons. It looked like there would be rain, she didn't care, it couldn't get any lower than this. She stopped in her tracks when she heard a lower, snarling sound from deep within a creatures throat.
He stood infront of the collossal forest dragon. What was the use in living if she hated his guts. He planned on ending it here and now. He didn't care about the country he ruled, or the friends he had, all that mattered was that she hated him. With reason he thought. He clutched the whispering morning flower she had given him in his palm. In the other, he held his sword. Van stared deep into the yellow eyes of a male forest dragon. In a quick movement, he slung his sword to one side and called to the great beast, "Yo! Dragon, I'm over here, you want me? Then come on! Take me!" This was the one way he felt honorable and all clear to die, at the hands of the creature he spoke for. As pilot of the Ispano guymelif, Escaflowne, the great Dragon god of Fanailia. A tear trickled down his cheek and his voice began to quiver, "Come on, what are you waiting for? I'm here, you're hungry, so come on!"
The dragon obediently raised it's ugly head to the sky and bellowed a challenge. Van whinced at the dull thud the sound made in his chest. This was it, live by the dragon, die by the dragon. An ancient prophecy that was handed down to each pilot of the Escaflowne. Only one would ever see it through.
She watched from the trees as the young king called out his demands to the dragon. Was this how she wanted it? She didn't know anymore, her walk had done no good to clear her feelings. She cried out in anguish as the dragon began charging it's flame.
His anger boiled and surged through him as the dragon delayed his life a breath longer, he wanted it to end now! He could hear his heart beating against his chest and echoeing through his ears. Suddenly, a cry from behind him alerted him of a presence. He'd recognize her voice anywhere, but what was she doing here?
Jason ran swiftly through the thick underbrush. He had heard Hitomi cry out and the dragon's low growl. He unsheathed his sword as he burst into the clearing. "I don't believe this," He said as he took in the scene, "He's sacrificing himself to a dragon!" He launched himself into the night sky, sword held high. He brought it down, with all his strength, between the dragons' vertabri. The beast was now paralized to the spot and the gullets connection with it's fire pouch was destroyed.
"What are you doing!" Van screamed as Jason landed on the ground.
"Saving your butt! What does it look like?" He answered in a heated tone.
"Why can't you let me die in solitude!?!" Van came back with.
"Die!" Jason boomed, "Van, you idiot! You can't die, your people need you!"
"Need me!" he scoffed, "I don't care!" He lowered his tone as his voice quivered, "What's the point in living."
"What's the point?" Jason lowered his tone aswell, "Van, if you die, you can't even attempt to patch things up with, Hitomi."
Van looked away, "What's the point, she made it all clear."
Jason growled to himself, Van was being stupid and not seeing any sense. He launched himself at the Draconian and struck him down on a fist.
Van's head jerked to one side as the blow hit him. He staggered back a few paces.
"Has that knocked some sense into you!" This wasn't Jason Dende, knight Arkayl speaking, it was Jason Dende, Dragonslayer.
Van held his chin and cheek, "What's the use?"
Another blow came his way and he fell to the ground. He picked himself up.
"I'm doing this for your own good, Van. You have to see sense, if you die, then who will protect her? Even if it's against her will." He took a calming breath.
Van didn't answer.
Hitomi watched as Jason struck Van for the second time. She couldn't hear the words and didn't even know why Jason was doing what he was doing. She could see the dragon behind them wryth in terror and frustration. But, then again, why should she care about what happened to Van? A shiver ran down her spine as the beast roared in anger.
Van and Jason cringed as the dragon bellowed. His anger heated to it's maximum point, Van growled. "Shut up!" He screamed at the dragon. He thrust his hands forward and launched a powerful beam of light from the centre of his palms, the ripping pain hardly registered in him as his wings were brought forth to balance this new power.
She gasped as the ray of light struck the dragon. It seemed to keen heavily and fall down, under it's weight. Then it's skin started to dissolve infront of the three until it's bones were left. She felt nauseous as the bones split and fragmented into tinier pieces before dissapearing completely. Van whirled around to face where she was hiding. Hitomi wanted to cry out, his wings were a deep red colour and pulsed. The worst was his eyes, the eyes she found fascinating had a glint of something evil in them. It was dark magic. His face was unwelcoming and scared her more than his eyes and pulsing wings.
His laboured breathing continued as he studied her, crouched in the undergrowth. He could see everything, he felt like his vision had become that of the dragons, slit and capable of seeing almost the tiniest detail from this far. His heart beat in time to the pulsing of his wings, he could feel the dull thuds in his chest. He didn't quite comprehend what had just happened, he'd seen the dragon dissintergrate, he'd felt the pain of his wings pulsing and the pain of that strange beam of light from his palms.
She felt naked infront of his, all seeing, gaze, her soul bare to his piercing look. Without realizing it, her breathing became faster, the look was frightening. Those eyes, those eyes that had so lovingly looked upon her exposed flesh that night, were now steel traps inwhich she was caught in. The black magic that danced in them burned with a fury she feared would over power him.
All of a sudden a gripping pain raced through his body. Van cried out as it intensified. Every muscle in his chest tightened as the white hot pain surged through him. The whites of his eyes rolled in terror, what was happening?
Strange, almost airy voices penetrated through the never ending pain, *Forgive, forgive, betray, forgive.* He didn't know what they were talking about, *Will not work, will not work, forgive, forgive, betray, forgive!* The voices rose in pitch. They seemed to go on and repeat an ancient prophecy, *When the Star Wanderer returns, the lost souls unite. Therein lies the firestorm, the bond must be forged and broken by both, but one has the power to make all the difference to both his people!* Their words echoed through his mind, *That which was the dragons', we now bestowed unto you, Knight of Dragons.* The pain rose in intensity. He feared that it would kill him. *Their powers combined can command the blood line, remember, Knight of Dragons, that together your powers could bring forth great turmoil, but we place our faith in your hearts, may they always beat strongly and as one.* The voices faded away and he collapsed to the floor in relief as the pain followed them, what were they talking about?
Hitomi heard the strange, unearthly, voices and she pondered over it, anything to escape those penetrating eyes when they were turned on her. She thought of the Star Wanderer and of the Knight of Dragons. The knight was obviously Van, but the Star Wanderer, was it her? What did they mean by forgive and betray? She cried out as Van collapsed to the ground.
This time Jason heard her scream, as clear as day. He watched his friend crumble onto the ground. "Van!" He slung his sword into it's sheath and kneeled down to help the young warrior up. He also watched Hitomi burst out from her hiding place, she came up beside him and, together, they helped Van up. He was barely concious, his eyes were glazed over, like he was in a trance. Jason grabbed Van's sword and dropped it in the sheath. It was loose, but for now, it would have to do. They helped the young king back to, the nearly deserted, castle. This was going to cause an uproar, he had told her.
Early Morning.
Hitomi tossed and turned in her sleep. After taking Van to the infirmary, Jason had offered to stay with him while Hitomi got some rest. She had returned to her room and all but collapsed herself from exhaustion. She had a restless night. Her thoughts were haunted by ghosts of nightmares.
With a sudden jolt she was brought back to reality. She sat up straight in her bed, a cold sweat running down her forhead and into her eyes. She wiped it away with a hand as she willed her breathing to slow down.
A knock on the chamber door alerted her of someones presence. "Who is it?" She asked, shakily.
"Hitomi! Wake up you lazy thing! What happened to Lord Van?"
Hitomi groaned as Merle burst through the door. She didn't want to talk about it. Last night, when she had gotten to bed and before falling asleep, she had cried for, seemingly, ages. She didn't know what to do, where her true feelings lay, she was confused and frightened. The look in his eyes, when they had turned on her, was enough to pierce her heart a thousand times with needle sharp arrows. She had to sternly remind herself that that was not Van, but dark magic possessing him.
"Merle, what's wrong?"
"Lord Van is ill and I need to tell him something, but I'm not allowed to see him." The cat girl was near to tears. "What happened?"
"I don't know, Merle."
The cat studied her a moment, then spoke softly, clearly uncertain. "Hitomi, can I tell you something? And you promise you won't tell, Lord Van."
"Yeah, Merle, sure."
Outside, in the corridor, a lone kitchen drudge past the door to Hitomi's room. The laundry she was carrying errupted from her grasp as shouts and screams entered the morning atmosphere. She opened the door to the Mystic Moon girl's room and saw her and Merle dancing around the bed. They stopped and looked at her. "I'm sorry, was I interupting something?"
"Oh, no, Hilda." Merle replied. The maid ducked out and carried on with her work, starting by picking up the laundry she had been carrying.
"But that's great news, Merle!"
"I know, but I have to tell Lord Van."
"I'm sure he'll be overjoyed."
"I hope so, I also hope he's alright. Hitomi, would you do a tarot spread for me?"
"Oh, gee, Merle, I'm not sure that's a good idea, you should leave this out of fates arms." She answered, a little aprehensive.
"OK, but would you do me another favor? I guess only you and Jason will be allowed to see Lord Van. Would you go and see if he's alright for me?"
"Sure, Merle."
"Thank you, Hitomi." Merle hadn't been there when Hitomi had chucked her glass of ale over Van, and she didn't know anything of what happened.
Somewhere deep inside of her, Hitomi wanted to go see him, find out how he was, but why should she care, if he didn't care for her. The sound of the disembodied voices rang through her head, *Forgive, forgive, betray, forgive!*
When Merle left, Hitomi reached for her cards. "Maybe just one, to sort out this mess." She said to herself. The first one that came into her hand she turned over. The reversed Empress, "Maternal problems?" She gasped as she was surrounded by darkness. Three young figures came into view. "I know you," She said, pointing to each one in turn, "Naria, Aria, Folken." They dissapeared and she was surrounded by fire.
"No! I'm fine Jason!"
"Van, are you sure you feel well enough?"
"For the last time, yes!" Van was standing near the exit of the infirmary, where he had spent the night. "Besides, I have some things to do." He added, in a solumn voice.
Jason heaved a sigh, when Van got it in his head to do something, he'd see it through to the end, even if he was badly injured.
"Don't worry I'm fine." He answered the unspoken question. "I have to do this Jason, you said yourself that if I didn't, I'd regret it." he paused, "If it would make you feel better, I'll go down to the kitchens first, kay?"
"Alright, but I'm coming with you, I don't want you dying on me, especially when I changed your mind last time."
When they reached the kitchens, Tirone, Allen, Gaddes and his crew were there. Jason grabbed a mug of cocana, a coffee like drink. Van reached for a bowl, spoon and ladel. He ladelled the bowl full of a cereal, boiling in the hearth. He joined his friends at the long table, but sat to one side of them, lost in his own thoughts. He rolled the spoon around the bowl, staring at it. He was resting his head in the palm of his other hand, mulling over last nights events. Knight of dragons? Star Wanderer? He took a logical stab at the last. Hitomi. The name struck him like a dagger, how could she doubt his love? How could she think that that night didn't mean anything to him? Because he was foolish and mucked it all up, he shided himself.
He briefly cast a look to Tirone, he was sitting to one side of the group as well. Normally, the young white cat boy was energetic. Today, he seemed unusually subdued. The, usually, jet black stripes on him were now grey streaks, he didn't look too well.
Hitomi reached the infirmary towards midday. The nurse on duty there had told her that Van wasn't there, that he'd left with Jason. That's odd, Hitomi thought. She turned to go to the kitchens, she was starving.
Just as Van finally forced himself to start on his breakfast, a messenger came skidding into the kitchens. "Sir, Lord Van, sir."
"What is it, Nick?" Van asked, dissapointingly eyeing his, cooling, bowl of cereal.
"Sir, Zaibeche is heading our way. Around midday, a messenger came in with news of Zaibeche activerties. Like you ordered I was sent to let you know."
Van sighed, no food for him. "OK, Nick, tell the guards to start rounding everyone in the castle up. Tell them to shepherd them all to the fields at the back of the castle."
"Sir." Nick saluted and ran off to deliver his message.
"What was that all about?" Jason asked, downing the last of his drink.
"I can't explain now, but I need you all to help out. Start spreading the message." Now he needed to find Hitomi, he hoped this wasn't going to be too hard, she had to see sense, he needed her help.
He turned to go and find her when Jason put a restraining hand on his shoulder, "I hope I know what and where you are going first, Van?"
"You got it in one, Jason, please excuse me," He turned back to the door, "While I go to a fate worse than death." He turned back to his friend with a wry smile, "A woman!" With that he cantered off down the hallway.
Van thought he should check her room first, she might still be asleep.
Jason sent the rest to start their jobs. He wanted to do something first. He hoped this might make it easier for Hitomi to see sense. She was almost as stubbon as Van. He went in search for her. Just as he was heading out of the kitchens, Hitomi came round the corner. "Hitomi, I need to see you."
"Jason, what is it?"
"It's about Van."
"Oh ..." She sounded uninterested.
"Hitomi, please, you gotta listen to me, the guy is going insane." True enough, after turning suicidle on him last night, Van had been awake most of it argueing with Jason about why he didn't let him die. Crazy talk.
"So."
"Hitomi, don't you see," He pleaded, "It wasn't his fault!"
"I don't care, Jason!"
"Hitomi, please," He pushed, "Fine, I'll have to prove it to you." He took her in his arms and, before she could resist, kissed her soundly. When he released her he said bitterly, "That was what happened, only I'm not Areanna. The girl's a pig, Hitomi, Van would never fall for her."
She blinked at him. "If you want to, you can slap me." He suggested.
"I would," She replied in a whisper, "If you weren't making me try to see sense." She turned her gaze to the ground, "I've been so foolish, haven't I?" She looked back up to him, tears filling her eyes. "Jason, what am I going to do?"
"Simple," He said with resolve, "slap me, for overstepping the line, then go hunting Draconians. Infact, you literally just missed him, he's looking for you. On my advice." He added.
She smiled, a sad smile, "Thak you, Jason, I'm so sorry." With that she did as he asked and slapped him full on the face. She turned on her heels and fled.
Van sunk to the stoney ground on the castles steps, out in the main courtyard. He'd looked everywhere and couldn't find her. She wasn't in her room or with Merle. He'd looked back in the kitchens, but they were deserted. He was at a loose end now, he didn't know where to turn. All that he knew was that he had to find her. He was gasping for air, all he had been doing today was running around, desperately looking, but to no avail.
"Van! Van, where are you? I know you're here! Remember, I have the pendant!" Came a feminine voice from afar. It had a ring of detress in it. His head shot up, along with the rest of him as he strained to find her.
"Hitomi!" He cried out as he leapt down the steps, two, three at a time. He didn't care about the pain of his sword sheath hitting against a bruise on his leg, all that mattered was finding her, and not mucking it up this time.
"Hitomi!" He caught sight of her, turning to his voice.
"Van!" She called back, just as enthusiastically.
He caught up to her and held his hands, palm up, infront of him, pleading for his sanity. "Hitomi, please, I'm so sorry, I ... I don't know what to say that will make you change your mind." He was breathless, but he didn't care. "It was all my fault."
Her face turned serious, "You don't have to lie to me, Van Fanel, to win back my love. I don't want you covering that little Bitch's tracks."
He stared at her in surprise. He'd never heard her swear before. She stared back at him, "Oh come on, you fardling fool!"
"Hitomi ..." He smiled a little, "You've been on Gaea way too long."
Her expression softened, "I'm sorry I called you a ... what I called you." She looked away, "I had no right to." Tears glistened in her eyes.
He couldn't stand to see the pain in them any longer. He stepped forward and enfolded her in his arms. "You don't have to be, I deserved it." He could weep for joy right then, it had seemed so easy to apologize, yet so difficult.
She shook her head against his chest, "No, Van, I was wrong, I was wrong about everything." She whimpered softly against him.
"Shhh, Hitomi, you were right, I am a fardling fool! And I'm not just saying that, I truely am one, believing that I had lost your love and that my life was worthless." A tear rolled down his cheek, "I'm sorry." He whispered.
"You mean you were going to ... by a dragon?" She looked up at him. He wasn't smiling, his expression was solumn and sober. She dropped her head back down, tears were now coursing the length of her cheek and neck, "Van, no!" She drolled, "Not because of me?" She gasped back a sob, "No!"
He watched her cry her heart out for a while before lifting her chin, with a finger, to face him.
She looked into his eyes, the magic was still there, it was just dormant. It was frightening to think of how intense his glare was when this power was awakened, such was the gift of the Knight of Dragons. It came to her in a flash, instinct let the pieces fall into place, the ruby, the dragon, the voices, star wanderer and knight of dragons. Such was the fate of the Atlantians and their experiment.
A smile crossed his lips, "Now, this fardling fool kindda needs a little help here to save a planet ... again."
"What do you mean?"
"The green dragon will strike tonight!" The smile vanished, "We have to stop it from destroying Gaea."
"How?" She breathed. She gasped as understanding settled in. "The ruby, the dragon fountian, the writings." There was something else, "The prophecy."
*When the Star Wanderer returns. The lost souls unite. Therein lies the firestorm, the bond must be forged and broken by both, but one has the power to make all the difference to his peoples.*
She whispered under her breath the last part of what the voices had to say, "That which was the dragons, we now bestow unto you, Knight of Dragons." The Dark magic.