Well, that was short! Alas, caritas has trouble writing when she's busy
painting and singing! I actually finished 2 new pieces and not this story!
but that's not relevant…what is this, #6? Cool. How'd you guys like the
mack-ing-ness of last time? (before reading this chapter I suggest we all
re-read last chapter!) Ah, yes, that's some good macking. Should that be
rated higher? I don't know. I haven't checked your comments either.
Perhaps cuz SCHOOLS OUT. Hahah. Anyway…just thinking about what to write
next…ago, my fair lovers/readers/winners/people.
Caritas/cari/tsubasa_no_kami@juno.com/spn cmbstication/July 23-esca dvd comes!
Chapter 6
"Van, wake up…" Van slowly opened his eyes and beheld the wonderful face of Hitomi in front of him. Her head was outlined with the morning sunlight and her eyes shone with love. He smiled and stretched. Hitomi lowered her face to his and they kissed. "God, this feels so right." he murmured as Hitomi nuzzled his cheek and relaxed next to him. "Yeah…you should go, so the Abarhaki don't get mean…Allen might…" Van nudged her as she trailed off, "Might what…get jealous and try to rape you?" Hitomi cringed at his words and Van wondered what he had said. "You should just go…" She sat up and began tying on her chest wrap. Van frowned and stood up. "Hitomi…" She stood up also and pulled up her shirts. She gave him his pants and glanced quickly away from him as he tugged them on. He finished buttoning his shirt and asked, "What'd I do, love?" Hitomi looked up at him then gently pushed him to the door, following as he stepped backward. "Hitomi…" he whispered as he caught her hand and brought her closer to him. Hitomi ducked her head and said quietly, "I don't feel like talking now Van, could you just go? It's nothing…" Van frowned but kissed her gently on her forehead and exited, softly shutting the door behind him.
Van sat on the top deck of the White Dragon Caravan and watched the city of Tourishina awaken. They were next to a large warehouse that bordered on one of the main roads that led into the center of Tourishina. Large, wooden, stone and brick buildings stood on either side and people were venturing from these buildings towards various squares. Van was watching a particular square where several vendors had set out their wares. A small family of three was approaching the square, a boy and a girl with their mother. It appeared the boy and girl were twins and were fighting over half a loaf of bread. The mother chided them, took the bread and ate it herself. Van chuckled, in spit of himself. The woman then laughed and produced 2 small sweet rolls for her children. They all stopped at one vendor who was selling nuts and dried fruits. Suddenly, a heavy mechanical sound exploded around the area. Van stood up quickly and gasped at what he saw. The large red guymelef he had seen in the Black Dragon hangar was stomping towards him, though it was still distance off. A high-pitched mechanical giggle reached him and Van knew who it was. "Where are you, Hitomi and Van?! I'll kill you both!" Van was suddenly surrounded by several of the Abarhaki who were gawking at the giant guymelef. Hitomi ran up on deck and gasped at what she saw. She narrowed her eyes and felt the stirrings of anger. She found herself on top of the mast of the caravan and yelling as loud as she could, "COME AND GET US YOU MOTHER-FUCKER!" Van flinched at her words and glanced back to Dilandau. He had frozen in his tracks but they suddenly heard him yell, "There you are!" He raised the left arm and shot something liquid metal at them. Hitomi's eyes widened as she saw it, "Claw…" she whispered, and then she screamed, "EVERYONE OFF THE CARAVAN GO!" She dove from the topmast as the claw spear closed in on them. Van saw it too late, he ducked, but Hitomi had him and they both dove off the side of the caravan. As they rolled some distance away from the ship, Van felt heat and heard screams and explosions. He looked out from under Hitomi's arm in time to see the ship explode into flames and flying wood and metal. Hitomi was quickly up, and staring at the sky. "Look, Hitomi, I have wings too!" mocked Dilandau as black, bat-like wings sprung from the back of his guymelef. Van gasped as Dilandau flew towards them. He raised his left arm again and this time they were faced with the intimidating black hole of a flamethrower. Flames erupted from the muzzle, but instead of hitting them, it wiped out the small market square Van had first been watching. "No!" cried Van as he heard the shriek of a small child. The flames rose higher into the sky as they engulfed all the surrounding houses and small shops. Van stood and surveyed the destruction. "NO!" he shouted again and ran towards the flaming buildings of death. He stood and watched the chaos around him, his white shirt whipping around him from the windy thermals the sudden flames had caused. Something pressed his arm tightly and he glanced down angrily; it was Hitomi. "You have to unleash the power of the God of War, NOW VAN!" He stared at her and blinked then yelled back, "I can't! Don't you get it?! I was never the God of War! I have no part in this except to love you Hitomi! You are the true warrior, the true queen! It WAS your parents who died and YOU have to defeat Dilandau and kill Folken and bring peace to Gaia! I can't!" Hitomi glared at him and countered, "I can't if YOU--" A deafening crash shook them from their feet and stopped their argument as Dilandau touched down back to the ground. Hitomi ducked and rolled as Dilandau followed her with his flamethrower. "Hitomi!" cried Van as he saw her disappear behind a wall of flames and heard her last shriek. Dilandau's psychotic laughter followed. Van swung around and glared at the giant red guymelef. He ran towards it, gathering his psychic powers in the middle of his forehead, feeling his anger grow and nursing it to create a more powerful strength. He shot his blast at Dilandau's feet and the guymelef wobbled. "VAN!" screamed Dilandau as he fought control for his guymelef. "YEAH? WHAT?" Van screamed back as he shot another beam at the guymelef's already unsteady feet. This one wasn't as strong and Dilandau was ready for it. Van thought of Hitomi, being burned like that poor little family…like his kingdom…like…his parents. He screamed into the red sky and felt something contract within him. Tears streamed from his eyes as he felt something move in his pocket. He looked down and saw the little pink stone slowly float into the air. And he knew. "ESCAFLOWNE!" he roared as the green light descended from the sky and the majestic ivory machine appeared before him. He watched in awe as the chest piece opened, showering him with water, he raised his arm, and then something fell on him with a squeal. He sat up slowly, forgetting Dilandau's laughter and threats that still assaulted him, and stared at the person who had fallen on him. "Hitomi?!" he cried, his eyes wide with the beautiful sight of her. She was bloody, yeah, and had some burns, but other than that… . "Van! You did it! You called him! You called Escalon! My Dragon Armor!" She kissed him quickly then rushed back to Escaflowne and stood before it. Skillfully, she hopped onto its bent knee and into the cockpit, and before its chest closed to receive its queen Van heard her call, "Escaflowne! Take my blood!" The doors to the cockpit closed and Van backed away from the steaming machine.
Inside, many wires were attaching themselves to Hitomi, making her completely one with Escaflowne. She tried out the legs and heard them groan. She stood.
Slowly, it stood, with some weird organic cracking sounds and turned to face Dilandau, who had stopped laughing and was now yelling threats. Van heard Hitomi's voice call, "YOU ARE A DEAD LITTLE KID, DILLY-PICKLE!" Begin Dance of Curse II Escaflowne reached behind its back and grasped the sword embedded in it. Hitomi placed the sword in front of her and Van gasped as the small sword expanded to become a giant gleaming sword suitable of Escaflowne's magnificent size. Dilandau also produced a spear- like sword and rushed Hitomi. Van ran out of the way of the colliding guymelefs and ducked as chips of steel flew by his head. He heard both of them fighting to gain the upper hand and turned in time to see Hitomi thwack Dilandau on the side of his massive chest. Dilandau screamed in frustration and shoved Hitomi. She backed up, crushing more buildings and scattering more people. She swung with her sword to get Dilandau out of her face and Dilandau blocked the blow, quickly retaliating with one of his own. Sparks flew from their connecting swords and the loud clang caused Van to flinch. Hitomi forced Dilandau back and the buildings behind him slowed them both down. Dilandau got out of reach and raised his left arm again, aiming the flamethrower directly at Escaflowne's chest. Van raised a hand to warn her, then remembered she probably couldn't see him. The flames erupted form Dilandau's arm and fired towards Hitomi. She stepped back form the intensity and heat of the attack. Van cried out as he saw Escaflowne consumed in the flames. Dilandau's laughter ensued and he screamed at Hitomi, "BURN HITOMI! BURN TO THE BONES!" Hitomi remembered all the flames of her past, her new found relationship with Van and remembered she had a world to save. "NO, DILANDAU! YOU DIEEEE!" she screeched and threw Escaflowne forward, crushing his flamethrower and knocking Dilandau to the ground. Dilandau screamed as he went down. "I KILL ALL MY ENEMIES!" Hitomi continued screaming as she stabbed her sword into Dilandau's right shoulder, pinning him down. Dilandau struggled and finally scooted away, standing up. The process ripped his right shoulder off and left it, along with the sword, embedded deep into Tourishina's ground. He screamed in pain as the wires and tubes connected to his right arm were ripped off, bringing blood along with it. But then he started laughing and giggling. "Hitomi, you WILL DIE!" He threw his body on top of Hitomi's and the guymelefs crashed to the ground. "Hitomi!" cried Van as the guymelefs collapsed behind crumbled buildings.
Inside the cockpit of Escaflowne, Hitomi was sweating mightily and slowly being crushed to death. She closed her eyes and concentrated her strength to make her legs move to try and kick Dilandau off her. "I will finally have killed you…you stupid little girl…I'm just glad I got to have you before I ki--" Hitomi brought her leg up and shoved Dilandau off of her. "You are filth!" she cried and pulled her sword out of the ground. Dilandau lay on the ground, breathing hard. That last kick had sapped a lot of energy, and he was losing blood a bit too fast. Hitomi stomped over to him and raised her sword. "NOW DILANDAU…" she began, and swung the sword, hard. It was caught by another sword. The sparks fired from the connection and Van gasped to see what had stopped Hitomi's killing blow. "No, Hitomi, it is you who will die. You get in everyone's way too much. No body likes you, and that is why I am here to kill you." Hitomi narrowed her eyes as sweat trickled down the bridge of her nose and she muttered "Folken." The opposing guymelef was a compete replica of Escaflowne except it was totally black, with a glowing grey stone in it's right chest. Hitomi raised her sword in front of her and waited. Folken charged her with a loud battle cry and hit her squarely on her left arm with his black sword. She cried out as she felt a couple of wires pop out of her skin, bringing blood with it. Her veins pumped harder as Escaflowne requested more of her blood. She reacted to Folken's blow with one of her but was blocked by him.
Dilandau was frantically tearing all the wires from his body and quickly pushed up from inside his guymelef. He hopped out of the melef, almost completely naked, save for his tidy whities. He stumbled back from the fighting guymelefs and surveyed his wrecked guymelef. He heaved a huge sigh, then sprinted back to his Dragon Slayers.
Folken shoved with all his might on his sword and Hitomi stepped back. "Ah! You are WEAK little girl! WEAK!!" Hitomi screamed back, "YOU'RE UGLY!" She rushed him and he parried, quickly forced his way from their entwined swords and swung to her right. Hitomi blocked the blow but felt the effects of tiredness and loss of blood. She struggled and failed to hold his attack for long and soon her sword gave in and she was forced back. Van sensed her weakening and cried out, "Hitomi! Don't give up!" He watched as she stumbled some more under Folken's harsh blows and suddenly, she collapsed. "Hitomi!" he yelled and raced to the fallen Escaflowne, hoping she was still alive and ignoring the advancing Folken. "Foolish boy!" a menacing voice shouted at him. The Black Dragon Guymelef stopped in its tracks and the cockpit doors opened; Folken watched him expectantly. Van raced up the rocky terrain of Escaflowne's legs and chest and tore open its chest to see a bloody Hitomi. "Hitomi!" came his strangled cry as he tore at the wires connecting her with Escaflowne. The huge machine groaned under him and began to move. "Oh god, I've got to get you out, HITOMI WAKE UP!" Van pulled her from the cockpit and shook her, but she didn't' move. He checked her pulse and smiled slightly, "Still alive…"
"Van! Brother! Why not don the armor of the White Dragons! And as the King of Dragons, fight me! True, you will die, but then I will have all the power and ability to destroy this pathetic world!" Van clutched Hitomi closer to him at Folken's callous words. "or better yet, why not turn Escaflowne into the Black Escaflowne, and rule the world with me!" Van raised his head and yelled harshly, "Never! You could never rule anything but your own hatred! Can't you see how stupid you're being?! You've killed senselessly"—Van thought of the small family in the square—"you've destroyed your own family, and now you ask me to help you?! You are nothing, Folken! Do you think that by destroying us and everyone on this planet, your pain and hatred will go away?! Never! You were born to forever live in agony! And I'll have no part in it!" Folken frowned and then said, "Don't you see boy, YOU are the cause of this pain and suffering that I am, as you said, forever doomed to pursue! If YOU were destroyed boy, then maybe I would end it!" Van couldn't believe this maniac, maybe he should just hop into Escaflowne and kill the bastard; did Folken really believe everything he was saying?! "WRONG AGAIN NUMB-NUTS! YOU FUCKER! YOU CHOOSE TO HURT AND SUFFER, YOU CHOSE TO HATE ME THE DAY I WAS BORN, YOU CHOSE TO DESTROY YOU'RE KINGDOM! AND NOW, YOU CHOOSE YOU'RE DEATH!" Van had had enough. He was Fanelan—Gaian—and Earthen as well. Tightly clasping Hitomi to him, he squeezed into the cockpit and found it accommodated them both. It seemed to grow with the two of them combined. Hitomi was suddenly taken from him and he saw her sink into the red glowing chamber in the stone of Escaflowne's right chest. "What?!" he whispered in incredulity as she became totally naked and in the fetus position. A new light flashed through Escaflowne and Van didn't have to have any wires attached to him; Hitomi was the energy source for Escaflowne. She was floating in pink liquid, her hands wrapped around her tightly drawn knees and she was glowing with pink light. "That's why Folken couldn't destroy Hitomi, she's literally a part of Escaflowne!" he whispered as he watched her. The chest doors shut and Van stuck his hands and legs into the corresponding piece of Escaflowne. He heard a hiss and then he stood up, feeling the tug of Escaflowne's mandibles on his own. He faced Folken and asked, "Have you ever loved?" Folken laughed and cried, "Why should I?!" Van raised his sword and charged him, using his psychic powers combined with his own physical strength to outrun Folken and embed his sword deep in the center of the Black Dragon. As the Black Dragon crumbled and keeled over with a heavy and loud thud Van whispered, "I kill all our enemies." Inside the pink liquid chamber, Hitomi stirred.
Caritas/cari/tsubasa_no_kami@juno.com/spn cmbstication/July 23-esca dvd comes!
Chapter 6
"Van, wake up…" Van slowly opened his eyes and beheld the wonderful face of Hitomi in front of him. Her head was outlined with the morning sunlight and her eyes shone with love. He smiled and stretched. Hitomi lowered her face to his and they kissed. "God, this feels so right." he murmured as Hitomi nuzzled his cheek and relaxed next to him. "Yeah…you should go, so the Abarhaki don't get mean…Allen might…" Van nudged her as she trailed off, "Might what…get jealous and try to rape you?" Hitomi cringed at his words and Van wondered what he had said. "You should just go…" She sat up and began tying on her chest wrap. Van frowned and stood up. "Hitomi…" She stood up also and pulled up her shirts. She gave him his pants and glanced quickly away from him as he tugged them on. He finished buttoning his shirt and asked, "What'd I do, love?" Hitomi looked up at him then gently pushed him to the door, following as he stepped backward. "Hitomi…" he whispered as he caught her hand and brought her closer to him. Hitomi ducked her head and said quietly, "I don't feel like talking now Van, could you just go? It's nothing…" Van frowned but kissed her gently on her forehead and exited, softly shutting the door behind him.
Van sat on the top deck of the White Dragon Caravan and watched the city of Tourishina awaken. They were next to a large warehouse that bordered on one of the main roads that led into the center of Tourishina. Large, wooden, stone and brick buildings stood on either side and people were venturing from these buildings towards various squares. Van was watching a particular square where several vendors had set out their wares. A small family of three was approaching the square, a boy and a girl with their mother. It appeared the boy and girl were twins and were fighting over half a loaf of bread. The mother chided them, took the bread and ate it herself. Van chuckled, in spit of himself. The woman then laughed and produced 2 small sweet rolls for her children. They all stopped at one vendor who was selling nuts and dried fruits. Suddenly, a heavy mechanical sound exploded around the area. Van stood up quickly and gasped at what he saw. The large red guymelef he had seen in the Black Dragon hangar was stomping towards him, though it was still distance off. A high-pitched mechanical giggle reached him and Van knew who it was. "Where are you, Hitomi and Van?! I'll kill you both!" Van was suddenly surrounded by several of the Abarhaki who were gawking at the giant guymelef. Hitomi ran up on deck and gasped at what she saw. She narrowed her eyes and felt the stirrings of anger. She found herself on top of the mast of the caravan and yelling as loud as she could, "COME AND GET US YOU MOTHER-FUCKER!" Van flinched at her words and glanced back to Dilandau. He had frozen in his tracks but they suddenly heard him yell, "There you are!" He raised the left arm and shot something liquid metal at them. Hitomi's eyes widened as she saw it, "Claw…" she whispered, and then she screamed, "EVERYONE OFF THE CARAVAN GO!" She dove from the topmast as the claw spear closed in on them. Van saw it too late, he ducked, but Hitomi had him and they both dove off the side of the caravan. As they rolled some distance away from the ship, Van felt heat and heard screams and explosions. He looked out from under Hitomi's arm in time to see the ship explode into flames and flying wood and metal. Hitomi was quickly up, and staring at the sky. "Look, Hitomi, I have wings too!" mocked Dilandau as black, bat-like wings sprung from the back of his guymelef. Van gasped as Dilandau flew towards them. He raised his left arm again and this time they were faced with the intimidating black hole of a flamethrower. Flames erupted from the muzzle, but instead of hitting them, it wiped out the small market square Van had first been watching. "No!" cried Van as he heard the shriek of a small child. The flames rose higher into the sky as they engulfed all the surrounding houses and small shops. Van stood and surveyed the destruction. "NO!" he shouted again and ran towards the flaming buildings of death. He stood and watched the chaos around him, his white shirt whipping around him from the windy thermals the sudden flames had caused. Something pressed his arm tightly and he glanced down angrily; it was Hitomi. "You have to unleash the power of the God of War, NOW VAN!" He stared at her and blinked then yelled back, "I can't! Don't you get it?! I was never the God of War! I have no part in this except to love you Hitomi! You are the true warrior, the true queen! It WAS your parents who died and YOU have to defeat Dilandau and kill Folken and bring peace to Gaia! I can't!" Hitomi glared at him and countered, "I can't if YOU--" A deafening crash shook them from their feet and stopped their argument as Dilandau touched down back to the ground. Hitomi ducked and rolled as Dilandau followed her with his flamethrower. "Hitomi!" cried Van as he saw her disappear behind a wall of flames and heard her last shriek. Dilandau's psychotic laughter followed. Van swung around and glared at the giant red guymelef. He ran towards it, gathering his psychic powers in the middle of his forehead, feeling his anger grow and nursing it to create a more powerful strength. He shot his blast at Dilandau's feet and the guymelef wobbled. "VAN!" screamed Dilandau as he fought control for his guymelef. "YEAH? WHAT?" Van screamed back as he shot another beam at the guymelef's already unsteady feet. This one wasn't as strong and Dilandau was ready for it. Van thought of Hitomi, being burned like that poor little family…like his kingdom…like…his parents. He screamed into the red sky and felt something contract within him. Tears streamed from his eyes as he felt something move in his pocket. He looked down and saw the little pink stone slowly float into the air. And he knew. "ESCAFLOWNE!" he roared as the green light descended from the sky and the majestic ivory machine appeared before him. He watched in awe as the chest piece opened, showering him with water, he raised his arm, and then something fell on him with a squeal. He sat up slowly, forgetting Dilandau's laughter and threats that still assaulted him, and stared at the person who had fallen on him. "Hitomi?!" he cried, his eyes wide with the beautiful sight of her. She was bloody, yeah, and had some burns, but other than that… . "Van! You did it! You called him! You called Escalon! My Dragon Armor!" She kissed him quickly then rushed back to Escaflowne and stood before it. Skillfully, she hopped onto its bent knee and into the cockpit, and before its chest closed to receive its queen Van heard her call, "Escaflowne! Take my blood!" The doors to the cockpit closed and Van backed away from the steaming machine.
Inside, many wires were attaching themselves to Hitomi, making her completely one with Escaflowne. She tried out the legs and heard them groan. She stood.
Slowly, it stood, with some weird organic cracking sounds and turned to face Dilandau, who had stopped laughing and was now yelling threats. Van heard Hitomi's voice call, "YOU ARE A DEAD LITTLE KID, DILLY-PICKLE!" Begin Dance of Curse II Escaflowne reached behind its back and grasped the sword embedded in it. Hitomi placed the sword in front of her and Van gasped as the small sword expanded to become a giant gleaming sword suitable of Escaflowne's magnificent size. Dilandau also produced a spear- like sword and rushed Hitomi. Van ran out of the way of the colliding guymelefs and ducked as chips of steel flew by his head. He heard both of them fighting to gain the upper hand and turned in time to see Hitomi thwack Dilandau on the side of his massive chest. Dilandau screamed in frustration and shoved Hitomi. She backed up, crushing more buildings and scattering more people. She swung with her sword to get Dilandau out of her face and Dilandau blocked the blow, quickly retaliating with one of his own. Sparks flew from their connecting swords and the loud clang caused Van to flinch. Hitomi forced Dilandau back and the buildings behind him slowed them both down. Dilandau got out of reach and raised his left arm again, aiming the flamethrower directly at Escaflowne's chest. Van raised a hand to warn her, then remembered she probably couldn't see him. The flames erupted form Dilandau's arm and fired towards Hitomi. She stepped back form the intensity and heat of the attack. Van cried out as he saw Escaflowne consumed in the flames. Dilandau's laughter ensued and he screamed at Hitomi, "BURN HITOMI! BURN TO THE BONES!" Hitomi remembered all the flames of her past, her new found relationship with Van and remembered she had a world to save. "NO, DILANDAU! YOU DIEEEE!" she screeched and threw Escaflowne forward, crushing his flamethrower and knocking Dilandau to the ground. Dilandau screamed as he went down. "I KILL ALL MY ENEMIES!" Hitomi continued screaming as she stabbed her sword into Dilandau's right shoulder, pinning him down. Dilandau struggled and finally scooted away, standing up. The process ripped his right shoulder off and left it, along with the sword, embedded deep into Tourishina's ground. He screamed in pain as the wires and tubes connected to his right arm were ripped off, bringing blood along with it. But then he started laughing and giggling. "Hitomi, you WILL DIE!" He threw his body on top of Hitomi's and the guymelefs crashed to the ground. "Hitomi!" cried Van as the guymelefs collapsed behind crumbled buildings.
Inside the cockpit of Escaflowne, Hitomi was sweating mightily and slowly being crushed to death. She closed her eyes and concentrated her strength to make her legs move to try and kick Dilandau off her. "I will finally have killed you…you stupid little girl…I'm just glad I got to have you before I ki--" Hitomi brought her leg up and shoved Dilandau off of her. "You are filth!" she cried and pulled her sword out of the ground. Dilandau lay on the ground, breathing hard. That last kick had sapped a lot of energy, and he was losing blood a bit too fast. Hitomi stomped over to him and raised her sword. "NOW DILANDAU…" she began, and swung the sword, hard. It was caught by another sword. The sparks fired from the connection and Van gasped to see what had stopped Hitomi's killing blow. "No, Hitomi, it is you who will die. You get in everyone's way too much. No body likes you, and that is why I am here to kill you." Hitomi narrowed her eyes as sweat trickled down the bridge of her nose and she muttered "Folken." The opposing guymelef was a compete replica of Escaflowne except it was totally black, with a glowing grey stone in it's right chest. Hitomi raised her sword in front of her and waited. Folken charged her with a loud battle cry and hit her squarely on her left arm with his black sword. She cried out as she felt a couple of wires pop out of her skin, bringing blood with it. Her veins pumped harder as Escaflowne requested more of her blood. She reacted to Folken's blow with one of her but was blocked by him.
Dilandau was frantically tearing all the wires from his body and quickly pushed up from inside his guymelef. He hopped out of the melef, almost completely naked, save for his tidy whities. He stumbled back from the fighting guymelefs and surveyed his wrecked guymelef. He heaved a huge sigh, then sprinted back to his Dragon Slayers.
Folken shoved with all his might on his sword and Hitomi stepped back. "Ah! You are WEAK little girl! WEAK!!" Hitomi screamed back, "YOU'RE UGLY!" She rushed him and he parried, quickly forced his way from their entwined swords and swung to her right. Hitomi blocked the blow but felt the effects of tiredness and loss of blood. She struggled and failed to hold his attack for long and soon her sword gave in and she was forced back. Van sensed her weakening and cried out, "Hitomi! Don't give up!" He watched as she stumbled some more under Folken's harsh blows and suddenly, she collapsed. "Hitomi!" he yelled and raced to the fallen Escaflowne, hoping she was still alive and ignoring the advancing Folken. "Foolish boy!" a menacing voice shouted at him. The Black Dragon Guymelef stopped in its tracks and the cockpit doors opened; Folken watched him expectantly. Van raced up the rocky terrain of Escaflowne's legs and chest and tore open its chest to see a bloody Hitomi. "Hitomi!" came his strangled cry as he tore at the wires connecting her with Escaflowne. The huge machine groaned under him and began to move. "Oh god, I've got to get you out, HITOMI WAKE UP!" Van pulled her from the cockpit and shook her, but she didn't' move. He checked her pulse and smiled slightly, "Still alive…"
"Van! Brother! Why not don the armor of the White Dragons! And as the King of Dragons, fight me! True, you will die, but then I will have all the power and ability to destroy this pathetic world!" Van clutched Hitomi closer to him at Folken's callous words. "or better yet, why not turn Escaflowne into the Black Escaflowne, and rule the world with me!" Van raised his head and yelled harshly, "Never! You could never rule anything but your own hatred! Can't you see how stupid you're being?! You've killed senselessly"—Van thought of the small family in the square—"you've destroyed your own family, and now you ask me to help you?! You are nothing, Folken! Do you think that by destroying us and everyone on this planet, your pain and hatred will go away?! Never! You were born to forever live in agony! And I'll have no part in it!" Folken frowned and then said, "Don't you see boy, YOU are the cause of this pain and suffering that I am, as you said, forever doomed to pursue! If YOU were destroyed boy, then maybe I would end it!" Van couldn't believe this maniac, maybe he should just hop into Escaflowne and kill the bastard; did Folken really believe everything he was saying?! "WRONG AGAIN NUMB-NUTS! YOU FUCKER! YOU CHOOSE TO HURT AND SUFFER, YOU CHOSE TO HATE ME THE DAY I WAS BORN, YOU CHOSE TO DESTROY YOU'RE KINGDOM! AND NOW, YOU CHOOSE YOU'RE DEATH!" Van had had enough. He was Fanelan—Gaian—and Earthen as well. Tightly clasping Hitomi to him, he squeezed into the cockpit and found it accommodated them both. It seemed to grow with the two of them combined. Hitomi was suddenly taken from him and he saw her sink into the red glowing chamber in the stone of Escaflowne's right chest. "What?!" he whispered in incredulity as she became totally naked and in the fetus position. A new light flashed through Escaflowne and Van didn't have to have any wires attached to him; Hitomi was the energy source for Escaflowne. She was floating in pink liquid, her hands wrapped around her tightly drawn knees and she was glowing with pink light. "That's why Folken couldn't destroy Hitomi, she's literally a part of Escaflowne!" he whispered as he watched her. The chest doors shut and Van stuck his hands and legs into the corresponding piece of Escaflowne. He heard a hiss and then he stood up, feeling the tug of Escaflowne's mandibles on his own. He faced Folken and asked, "Have you ever loved?" Folken laughed and cried, "Why should I?!" Van raised his sword and charged him, using his psychic powers combined with his own physical strength to outrun Folken and embed his sword deep in the center of the Black Dragon. As the Black Dragon crumbled and keeled over with a heavy and loud thud Van whispered, "I kill all our enemies." Inside the pink liquid chamber, Hitomi stirred.