Well, now that I've managed to escape from Ninja girl, let's move on shall-

Protesters: NO YAOI, NO READ!!  NO YAOI, NO READ!!

-We.  *sigh* Never mind. 

Ekaterini: Hey Shen!! *schparkle*

Oh good.  And here I thought I wasn't going to have my daily dose of chaos.  What's with the picketers, Kat?

Ekaterini: Oh them?  Well, I just thought that since my Plushie Education reel didn't do any good, I'd try a different approach.

You're just mad because I was more resourceful than you gave me credit for.  Well, that and Tennyo called Shaft in to rescue me. 

Ekaterini: Resourceful!?  You passed out as soon as the title showed up!!

Ph34r my m@d ph4inting skillz, f00!!

Ekaterini: Whatever.  So anyway, I hired these picketers to help me get you to put some yaoi in your story.  Until I see some Dilandau and Van sucking face-

AHHH!!  Don't say such things around my virgin ears!!

Ekaterini:- we're going to keep people from reading your story!!  MWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

Um, yeah, rrrriiiiggghhttt…. How do you plan on doing that if they're reading it over the internet?

Ekaterini: Um, well, I haven't quite figured that part out yet…

Uh-huh.  Look, can you at least tell me why you want to see Van and Dilandau yaoi?  I mean, they wanna kill each other, for crying out loud!!

Ekaterini: Oh, you're so blind, Shen.

Meaning what?

Ekaterini: Isn't it obvious?  Van and Dilandau's aggressive tendencies towards one another are a psychological result of their pent up sexual frustrations at not being able to express their true feelings!

Soooo… You're saying they wanna kill each other because they love each other?

Ekaterini: Precisely!!

Yeah…  Hey are those the G-Boys over there!?

Ekaterini: G-Boys!!? Where!!!?

There!  Go get 'em, girl!!

Ekaterini: Quatre-Samaaaaaa!!!!!

That should keep her busy, for awhile…  So anyway, on with the story!!

****

The Vision of Escaflowne: Reunion

Chapter 7:

Fugitives

          Hitomi slowly opened her eyes and looked around.  She spotted Van standing nearby looking at their surroundings, trying to figure out where they were.  She slowly shifted her weight and sat up, trying to remember what had happened last.  From what she could recall, they had been with some man with white hair and a… guymelef.  It all came back to her now; she and Van had been captured and forced to show someone how to operate one of Gaea's colossal  battle machines, in exchange for their freedom.  When they had grudgingly complied, the man had decided that it was too dangerous to keep them alive, and was about to kill them both, when Hitomi's pendant had flared to life and teleported her and Van to Gaea, away from harm.  So now, their problem lay in figuring out where they were…

            Hearing Hitomi's movements, Van looked away from the scenery and made his way over to her. Sitting down he looked over at her and smiled.  "I'm glad to see you're okay.  I was starting to get worried." Hitomi blushed with embarrassment.  When she had asked him where they were, he looked away sheepishly and absently scratched his cheek with his index finger.  "Actually," he began rather quietly, "I was kind of hoping you could tell me that."  Hitomi looked at him dumbly for a moment before the rest of what happened on earth caught up to her.  Van's memory was still gone, so he wouldn't have any more idea where they were than she would.

            Standing up and brushing herself off, she helped Van up and looked around.  "Well, the only way to figure out where we are," she said looking one way then another, "is to look, isn't it?" she looked back at him and smiled reassuringly.  He gave a weak smile back at her, unsure of how to respond.  That's when she noticed the pendant still hanging from Van's neck.  Suddenly, she had an idea.  "But will it work?" she thought to herself.  "I haven't tried it for years…"  Still, there was no way to go now but forward.  "Van?" she asked.  He looked at her silently, waiting to find out what she wanted.  "Could I see your pendant, please?" she asked, pointing to it.  He looked down at it, then back at her, shrugged, then took it off and held it out to her.  She took it, thanked him, and held it out in front of her.

            Closing her eyes, she focused all of her thoughts on the pendant.  Everything else around her faded from her senses, as she concentrated every ounce of energy she had on finding out which way they should go.  This was a little harder than she had first thought, as she found it difficult to concentrate.  But, as she thought about the pendant it her mind, it began to swing.  Back, and forth, back and forth.  Left and right it swung, each time giving a low hum.  The effect was quite mesmerizing, and as she lost herself to the hypnotic hum, the pendant gave a jerk, and sung to her left.  The pendant in her hand did the same, and Van's gasp of amazement brought her back into reality.  Sighing in exhaustion, she looked back at him.

            He had on a slightly befuddled expression, looking from her to amulet, and then back again.  He looked so confused she gave a short giggle, which caused him to look at her irritably.  She quickly stifled her laughs and apologized.  "I'm sorry Van," she said.  "It's just that you looked a little funny for a moment."  He just cocked an eyebrow at her skeptically and didn't reply.  Smiling a little, she held the pendant back out to him.  "Here," she said at his puzzled expression.  "It's yours, remember?" she reminded him.  He just looked at her a moment.

            "Thank you," he replied quietly and reached out his hand, taking it.

            She smiled again and looked to where the pendant had swung.  Pointing, she said "I think we should go that way.  Something tells me that we'll figure out where we are if we do."  Van eyes followed her arm to the direction she pointed.  Looking at each other, Van nodded and they both walked in the direction of the bushes. 

            Parting the underbrush, Van and Hitomi continued to head to whatever it was they were going.  After a few minutes, Hitmoi began to feel something familiar about their surroundings.  She couldn't put her finger on it, but something told her that she knew she recognized this place somehow.  They parted another bush, and Van stepped through, Hitomi following close behind.  She quickly walked straight into Van's back, and fell on her bottom.  Rubbing her rear end, she looked up to see what made Van stop so suddenly.  Looking past him, she quickly saw the source of his awe.

            There, kneeling directly before them was a massive suit of armor.  It was a perfect pearl white, with a large red stone adorning its left breast.  A flowing black cloak with a crimson interior adorned its massive shoulder pads, each bearing a large emerald gem that sparkled in the moonlight.  The headpiece looked outward silently, and a large crest like a peacock's tail feather adorned it.  It was a truly beautiful machine, that only one of the finest craftsman's hands could sculpt. 

It was the royal gumelef of the king of Fanelia, the Escaflowne.

Hitomi smiled in excitement, and laughed out loud, being very relieved.  Van just looked questioningly at her, puzzled by her sudden reaction at what they were confronted with.  Van didn't exactly see what was so great about the situation, however.  Didn't they just escape from one of these things?  "Hitomi, why are you so elated?" he asked.  "We shouldn't be here.  If one of those things is around," he said pointing at the guymelef, "Then the pilot's bound to be here also.  We should leave before he gets back!"  Hitomi just giggled, which made him even more frustrated.

She stopped when she saw that Van's mood wasn't getting any better.  Trying to calm down, she said, "I'm… sorry Van…  I-it's just that it's a little… hee hee… a little late to get…. Mmph!!... to get away…"  She said, trying not to laugh to hard.  Van frowned and drew his eyebrows.  Wiping a tear from her eyes, she looked up and clarified her first statement.  "Van, it's too late to get away because you're the pilot of this suit." Van suddenly looked dumbstruck.  "Don't you see Van, we're in Fanelia!  You're kingdom!!"  she finished, leaping up and hugging him.  She couldn't believe what luck they had run into.  If Van could get his memory back anywhere, it would be here.

Suddenly though, she was aware of footsteps heading in their direction.  Van seemed to notice it, too and quickly grabbed hold of her, protectively.  The footsteps continued to grow louder, and finally several soldiers made their way out into the clearing.  They looked around quickly and one of them spotted Van and Hitomi.  Leveling his spear down, he called out to the others, who quickly surrounded them.  Hitomi looked from one to the other completely confused.  What was going on?  Didn't they recognize their own king?  Then Hitomi noticed something odd about the guards.  They didn't look the same as when she was last here… looking at one closer, she suddenly realized what was wrong.  The colors these guards wore were Asturia's! Why were they here?

"So, it seem the Count was correct about thieves after all," one of the guards said.  Assuming Van was the one in charge he addressed him.  "You, boy.  What are you doing here?  This is the royal ground of Asturia!" Asturia?  This was Fanelia!  Hitomi was completely in the dark, so she could imagine how Van felt. "Answer me, kid!  Were you planning on stealing this suit!?" he barked, flicking his spear in the direction of the Escaflowne.  Van was utterly lost.

"I don't know what you mean," he replied.  "Hitomi and I were lost, and were trying to find out where we were.  We came through here, and-"  The guards just laughed before Van could finish.  Looking back at the two, the guard just smirked in mirth.

"Right," he said, snickering.  "You expect up to believe something like that, do you?" he quickly looked around the clearing, searching for something.  Obviously not finding it, he looked back at them.  "And where'd the rest of your band get to, huh?"  One of the other guards piped up at this point.  "They most likely left them here when they heard us coming," he said with a sneer.  The others gave another short laugh.  "You're probably right," the first one replied.  "So, you got dumped by your friends, did you?"  He spat at the ground.  "I don't blame them.  We don't care for rouges around here kid.  Whether they're guys," he said, looking at Van. "Or girls," he finished turning his gaze to Hitomi.  She grasped Van's arm a little tighter at this. 

Gritting his teeth, Van looked at the head guard defiantly.  "Look, we didn't come here to steal this thing!" he exclaimed.  "All we were trying to do was figure out where we are!  Why won't you believe us!?" he demanded.  The guard just spat again.

"Yeah well, that's a pretty convenient story kid.  A little too convenient, if you ask me," he said, motioning to the other guards.  They closed the gap between themselves and Hitomi and Van.  "We'll just have to find out what the Count wants to do with you." He said slanting his spear across his chest and turning around.  The other guards began to move, taking Hitomi and Van with them.  Hitomi was just worried about what was going to happen next.  Why was this all so wrong?

****

            Count Averius Dukahl was a man who knew his place in life.  And that place was well under the heels of men more powerful than himself.  After all, why should his life be stressful when he could have someone else make the important decisions instead?  Some people didn't like these sort of positions because it was un-dignifying.  But Dukahl had little use for dignity, especially when the rewards reaped from those positions were so much more gratifying. 

            Speaking of which, he was currently enjoying his current position quite well, thank you very much.  King Aston had chosen him to act as Governor of this backwater country called Fanelia.  It seemed the former king had disappeared, right before Aston and the other higher-up had declared it as part of Aston's territory.  Dukahl wasn't certain why Aston had chosen him to lead this place, but he wasn't about to lodge any complaints.  He had a beautiful castle, a prosperous land, and didn't even have to lift a finger to manage it.  That was what his advisor Daedalus was there for.

            Thinking about the man seemed to summon him from out of nowhere, Dukahl was beginning to think.  Daedalus appeared out of the shadows and walked up to stand next to the Count.  For some reason Dukahl didn't like the arrogant prick.  It wasn't the fact that he acted superior that made Dukahl dislike him.  For some reason he couldn't help but hate the jerk.  Perhaps it was the way Daedalus carried himself.  He had brown hair, and an olive complexion with a body that would attract more than a few feminine eyes.  Dukahl himself was a small man, with a pot-belly, and a receding hairline.  It went without saying that he wasn't exactly the life of the party.  Regardless of the fact he couldn't figure out why he hated Daedalus, Dukahl sat back and listened to what he had to say.

            "Dukahl, I have just heard that the guards have captured two bandits near the Escaflowne…" he began.  Dukahl paid only half attention.  What did he care about that ancient Ispano guymelef?  He couldn't pilot it, and wouldn't have done so even if he could.  And the idea of guarding the damned thing was Daedalus' in the first place.  As Daedalus droned on with his report, Dukahl gave the man a sidelong glance.  Why was this man able to push Dukahl's buttons?  Until he had met Daedalus, Dukahl wasn't even aware he had any buttons.  But whatever it was, he couldn't shake that feeling of distrust and loathing he got whenever this sod-pile was around.  "… So when the guards arrive, you are to let the prisoners speak.  Then, have them placed in the dungeon." Daedalus finished.  Dukahl suddenly realized that the other man had finished talking, and was waiting for a sign of compliance from the Count.

            "Er… Yes, of course Daedalus.  I'll have them sent down to the dungeons immediately," he replied a little more hastily then he would have liked.  Damn that man!!  He had to find a way to get rid of him so that he could breathe again!  But that was something to dwell on later.  Daedalus said nothing and merely turned back and receded back to the darker areas of the castle hall.

            Daedalus made his way effortlessly through the castle halls.  Turning first one way and then the other he quickly found himself in the eastern part of the castle, where he normally kept himself when not wasting his time with that fool, Dukahl.  How such a pig had achieved the status of "Count" was something Daedalus would never understand.  Walking down one set of halls, he finally stopped before a door and opened it, stepping inside.  At the far end was his bed; along the left side of the wall was a desk that was littered with ancient books, herbs, and other such oddities.  The right corner contained two chairs and several shelves lined end to end with books of all different sorts.  It was here that his real task was being done: locating the remaining Dragon Armors.

            It was never an easy task, and he was thankful other agents of Belshezzar's were doing the same around Gaea.  Locating the Armors required the use of Arcane magiks, and the use of the power only Atlanteans could wield.  Because after all, it was an Atlanean herself who hid the armors, wasn't it?  However, he was soon to notice that he would have no time to dedicate to his search.  For seated there at one of the chairs, idly leafing through a book he no doubt pulled from the shelf behind him, was Belshezzar.

            Noticing that Daedalus had entered the room, the older man smiled and put the book down, motioning for his son to join him.  Daedalus did so, and poured some wine for himself and his father.  Accepting the drink, he took a small sip.  "Thank you, Daedalus," he said, holding the crystal glass between his fingers.  Looking at the other man, he asked what had kept him so busy.

            "It was a little thing, father," he replied.  Taking a drink from his own glass, he swirled the wine around slightly.  "It seems that your guess about the pillars of light we saw earlier was correct.  The guards found two children in the clearing where the Escaflowne is being kept."  He took another sip and looked over at Belshezzar, who appeared to be lost in thought.  "Father?" he asked cautiously.

            This seemed to gain his attention.  "Oh, I'm sorry, Daedalus.  I was merely thinking about something…" he rubbed his eyes tiredly.  "I'm beginning to grow too old for this.  So, what have you learned about the Escaflowne?" he asked, leaning back.  "Have you been able to get it to activate, yet?"

            Daedalus shook his head.  "No father, I'm afraid I haven't.  The thing doesn't wish to respond to my commands." He gripped his glass a little tighter.  "Everything I have tried so far has been totally ineffective.  It still stays dormant in that clearing!" The Escaflowne was the guymelef used by the royal family of Fanelia.  It would only serve the country's king, and no one else.  But above that, it was a device crafted for Atlantean hands.  Daedalus was certain that he would be capable of getting it to move and obey him, but the stubborn machine had refused him constantly.  It was an embarrassing fact that angered him to no end.  Thinking about it caused him to tremble in silent fury, and he hadn't noticed that his father had done anything until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

            Looking into Belshezaar's face, he saw the old man smirking.  "It seems that you might need a new glass, Daedalus." He said, shifting his eyes over to his son's hand.  Daedalus looked over to his father's object of attention and noticed that he had broken his wine glass, the liquid dribbling slightly down his clenched fist.  Cursing silently, he opened his palm and let what was left of the forsaken cup fall to the floor.  Belshezaar gave a small laugh.  "It's all right, my son.  In truth I didn't expect you to be successful in your attempts to subjugate the armor." 

            Daedalus was taken aback.  Belshezaar knew that Daedalus wouldn't be able to control the Escaflowne?  Then why…?  "Why did you send me here to retrieve it father?" he asked, giving voice to his questions.  At this his father shook a finger at him.

            "I did not send you here to retrieve the armor, Daedalus.  Merely to guard it and keep it safe.  Above the others, the Escaflowne was the armor Varie had to be most protective of.  She would have made sure that only a select few could pilot it."  He looked towards the window, in the direction the Escaflowne slept.  "That beast has already chosen its master," he said quietly.  "It knows that the young king of Fanelia is still alive, and will not allow itself to serve under any hand but his."  Belshezaar frowned and collected his thoughts.  Without opening his eyes, he said, "Daedalus, I want you to go and see those two in the dungeons.  But do not kill them, as we had originally intended."

            Now Daedalus was more confused than ever.  Belshezaar had somehow guessed that the former king of Fanelia would arrive in that pillar of light, and had wanted Daedalus to go to the dungeons and dispose of him, so there would be no reason for King Aston to withdraw from Fanelia.  Why the change now?  "Father, if I might ask, why did you decide to change your mind now?" 

            His frown deepened.  It seemed he himself didn't know the reason for his decision.  "I have a feeling that we will need that young man, for the time being at least."  He opened his eyes and looked at Daedalus, his gaze fierce and commanding.  "Go to the dungeons and speak with him.  See what you can learn about this young man.  I have a feeling that what we have to learn from him may be of some importance."

            Daedalus knew better than to refuse what sounded like an order coming from his father.  Inclining his head, he replied.  "It shall be done, then.  I will find out all there is to know about the boy."  His father nodded, then stood up and went to the window.  Throwing it open, he unfurled his wings and took flight, soaring above the fields of Fanelia.  Daedalus turned back to his desk.  He had to prepare for the inquiry to come…

****

            For the fourth time that night Van looked over at Hitomi.  She was asleep now, sprawled across the hay that served as the prison's bed.  He felt absolutely miserable.  She had been trying to help him regain his memory, brought him here, and was excited about the fact that they would finally, finally be able to cure his amnesia.  But now they had been brutally escorted by the guards to this castle, which she had said was his, questioned by a rather stout man about what they had been doing in that clearing, and received several beatings due to what the man had referred to as their "unwillingness to speak truthfully."  Hitomi had continued to protest that they were not trespassing, and that Van was the one who should be sitting on that throne.  She had received a painful blow to the back for that remark.  When the man had apparently heard all he could stand, he had them sent to the dungeon, and that was where they were currently staying. 

            Thinking about her brought Van back what had happened two nights ago while they were still on Hitomi's planet. What had caused him to do that when he saw her that way?  Did he love her?  No, that wasn't it.  He hardly knew anything about this girl aside from her name.  And it was obvious from her reaction to what he had nearly done that she harbored no such feelings for him, either.  So why did he almost couple with her?  And furthermore, why had it felt right when he was thinking about it?  It was all so confusing; at the moment, all he felt towards her was guilt.  Guilt for not believing what she had told him, guilt for not being able to do anything to help her when they where captured by that man on Hitomi's planet.  And more guilt when he was watching helplessly as she was beaten during their questioning.  Why was she wasting her time with him when all it got her was trouble?  These were things that Van couldn't grasp, so instead, he rolled over and drifted off to sleep.

            He was drifting.  No, that wasn't the right word; floating seemed to be more accurate.  Looking down, Van saw plains and mountains below him.  He laughed carelessly and soared through the air, zipping back and forth and performing feats of aerial skill that even birds would envy.  It felt so exhilarating!!

            Suddenly he became aware of other people around him.  Quickly looking behind him, he saw several other people quickly gaining on him.  Coming up on either side of him, they smiled.  Van, feeling he was safe with these people, smiled back good-naturedly.  They all swerved and darted, going this way and that.  Van was beginning to feel light headed with elation.  This was the best thing he had done in his life!  He felt so liberated up here above the clouds with these people around him.  They emanated a sense of kinship that Van had felt he was lacking.  All of a sudden, the others swooped down to a nearby mountain top, the last one beckoning Van to follow.

            Van's smile broadened.  He swept his arms to his sides and power-dived towards the mountain top, landing before all the other did.  They quickly touched down after him, gathering around him.  Van looked around, panting for breath.  He was still very excited from his aerial acrobatic session.  Looking in front of him, Van saw another group of people.  They were slowly coming up to Van and the others.  They were also smiling, Van noticed, and their faces radiated the same feeling of family that the others had before.  Van was completely at ease, and was feeling more content than he had for some time.  The head of the advancing group stepped forward to meet him, and Van got a better look at him.

            He was much older than Van.  If Van had to guess, this man might be old enough to be his father, or perhaps a young grandfather.  His face was dark, and he had eyes that were black and sparkled with the intelligence that only a person his age could acquire.  Small crow's feet stretched from the corners of his eyes, and more wrinkles lined his mouth, which was opened up into a reassuring smile.  This man seemed to be very happy to see Van, and stretched forth his hand, as if to take Van's and then embrace him.  Van smiled back and began to raise his hand to go through with it.

            "Don't," a voice from somewhere around him said.  Van gasped, and looked around.  Where had that voiced come from?  "Don't take his hand, Van," it continued.  "If you do, Gaea will be in terrible danger."  Van looked behind him, and saw a man a few years older than he was, with blue hair and a small tear shaped tattoo under his left eye.  He seemed… familiar, somehow…

            Van turned away from the old man to look this newcomer directly.  "What do you mean?" he asked.  "Who are you?"  The other man didn't respond, only looking at Van sadly.  Van gestured to those around him.  "How can these people endanger this… 'Gaea' you speak of?"  The very thought was ludicrous!  "They don't seem harmful to me!  In fact, I feel perfectly safe around them!"  Van wasn't sure what the blue haired man wanted, but he wasn't about to trust him.  The stranger lifted his hand and stretched it to his left.  The scene around them began to blur.  Van became unsettled by what was happening.  Suddenly they were in a huge city, with crystal spires that touched the skyline.  Beautiful fields dotted the country side amongst alabaster houses and mother-of-pearl buildings.  Van had never seen such a beautiful place.  He wondered for a moment if he had died and gone to heaven.  This thought became all the more convincing when he saw winged people soaring through the air slowly all around him.  Van looked around in awe, his mouth agape, at the wondrous scenes that confronted him.  He barely heard the other man when he spoke. 

            "Look well at what you see before you Van," he said, not once looking at the glorious spectacle that surrounded them.  "It is not heaven, as you believe it to be," this caught Van's attention.  How did this man know what he was thinking?  "We are in Atlantis, the city of the damned.  Look again Van, and see what happens shortly."  Van was skeptical, but he did as the stranger bid.  Looking around once more, he saw nothing out of the ordinary.  Then, all of a sudden, a fire erupted from one of the buildings.

            As it quickly burned to the ground, another explosion could be heard, and several other buildings were consumed in a blazing inferno.  The ground erupted in flames, tearing everything in its wake to pieces.  Not even those who soared in the air were safe from this rage of nature.  The fire reached up its fingers and completely destroyed those who tried soaring above it.  Screams of panic and the smell of burning flesh hung in the air like moisture on a humid day.  The smell made Van gag, and he quickly retched.  What was heaven only a moment ago quickly turned to hell, as people were burned to cinders in the mindless destruction of this land.  Van was terrified.  The other man only looked on the chaos impassively.

            "What you see before you is the destruction of Atlantis."  Van was horrified.  Why was he showing this to Van?  "It was done not by nature, or by their enemies."  He paused here for a moment.  "It was done by Atlantis' own people."  Van froze.  This nightmare was caused by the very people who made this land?  "It was a result of their arrogance and pride, and they paid the ultimate price for their foolishness."  Van turned back to look at him.  He looked down at Van and continued.  "Those people you were with a moment ago are searching for the lost power of Atlantis.  They need you in order to succeed."  Van became more confused by the minute.  They needed him?  What did he have to do with Atlantis' power?  The stranger opened his hand and pointed it at Van.  Suddenly a bright light flashed and a strange crystal appeared in the man's hand.  It was a greenish color, and round.  Looking at it, Van felt that it looked somehow familiar…  It gently floated from his hand to Van's.  "Take this," the man said.  "You will need it to power the Escaflowne.  I must leave you, now.  But know that if you need me, I will help you as much as I can." 

            As he turned to go, Van reached out to stop him.  "Wait!" he cried.  The man paused.  "What's your name?"

            The other man remained silent for a moment before answering.  When he spoke, Van thought he could hear a trace of sadness in the man's voice.  "…Folken."  He replied, then walked away and disappeared.  Van saw the smoldering world around him slowly fade and vanish.  He wondered silently what this strange dream meant for him.    

            Van awoke slowly, and was greeted to the sight of a man standing in front of the prison bars looking straight at him.  He was about to roll over and ask the intruder what he wanted, when he realized he was holding something.  Looking down, he noticed he was still hold the strange globe that Folken had given him.  Thinking it would be better not for this man to see it, he carefully tucked it into the straw underneath him and leaned upward.  The man before him grunted and motioned for Van to come closer.  Van did so warily.  He wasn't sure what this man wanted, so he had to be alert.

            As Van stood up face-to-face with the man, he looked over Van carefully.  He waited for a moment before finally speaking.  "So, you are the young king who has returned to cause an uproar, are you?" he asked quietly.  Van was uncertain what this man meant.  He stood there patiently, obviously waiting for Van to say something in reply.

            Van cleared his throat nervously.  The way this man looked at him, Van was afraid he might do something dangerous if he didn't get an answer that he wanted to hear.  "I, I'm not certain what you mean…" he replied slowly.  The man frowned.  Van continued, speaking a little faster.  "I don't really know much about myself, you see.  I've been told that I'm suffering from memory loss…" this seemed to lessen the other man's frown slightly.  He seemed to be considering Van's words.

            Finally the man spoke.  "Come here," he ordered.  Van stepped closer to the cell bars.  The man removed something from his neck and twisted it around his hand.  "If I find out you're lying…" he said dangerously.  Van didn't have to hear the rest of the sentence to know what would happen.  The man placed his palm flat against Van's forehead.  Van felt something hard press against his skin, like a small pebble or something.  The man looked directly into Van's eyes, and Van found that he couldn't turn his gaze away from the other man's.  He felt an intense cold spread over him from the man's hand, and involuntarily gasped for air.  The feeling lasted for a moment, and when the man withdrew his hand, Van felt himself slump to the floor, gasping for breath. 

            "Hmm… It seems you're telling the truth, your 'majesty'," he said with a slight sneer in his voice.  Van was still panting slightly, recovering from… whatever is was the man had done to him.  "I could feel your memories just beyond the outer reaches of you mind.  You still have them, but they're just beyond your proverbial reach."  As he said this, he moved toward the cell door.  Touching the lock with his hand, like he had done with Van, he stared at it for a moment, concentrating very hard.  Van, puzzled by the man's actions, heard a small click and the cell door suddenly swung open very gently, never making a sound.  Van was amazed; how had he done that?  "If I were you, I'd take my friend there," he said, jerking his head in Hitomi's direction, "And leave here.  I will make sure you are unseen."  This puzzled Van. 

            Getting up, he asked "What are you helping us for?  According to the Count, we're criminals."  The man shook his head at this.

            "I was the one who gave the order to arrest you," he looked a little irritated.  "From what I saw, you were indeed telling the truth, and were just trying to find out where you were."  He moved back over to face Van.  "I am merely trying to make amends for my mistake."  He turned away and started to leave.  "If however, you'd like to await your sentence…" he said.  Van quickly realized leaving was better than staying.  He moved over to wake Hitomi.

            "Van?" she replied sleepily.  "What is it, Van?" she asked again, rubbing her eyes.  He told her about what had happened, and she quickly cast off her doubts as well.  "We shouldn't stay around here," she said quickly.  "Allen or Merle might know what's going on; we should go find them."  Looking over to the stranger, she whispered quietly to Van.  "But can we trust him?  I don't like the way this is set up…"

            Van looked over his shoulder at the man.  He seemed to be watching them converse.  Van's eyes narrowed and he turned back to Hitomi.  "I don't like this situation either, but it's better than waiting around to see what the Count has in store for us.  We should take it."  Hitomi looked torn for a moment, then nodded.  They got up and followed the man through the castle, trying to keep up with his long strides.  For some reason, they never encountered a single guard.  Van thought it was odd, but didn't dwell on the fact.  Eventually, they reached the clearing where Escaflowne resided.  The man stood back, saying he would be on the lookout for any guards on patrol.  Van stepped up to the gem in the Escaflowne's left breast and, remembering what that other man on Hitomi's planet had done, tried to place the green crystal in the larger gem.  He then remembered that he had to have some of his own blood on it for it to work.  Realizing he didn't have any sharps items on him, he turned to Hitomi.

            Realizing what was wrong, Hitomi searched her pockets for anything that could help them.  It was to no avail.  She had nothing Van could use.  They heard a noise behind them and saw the man looking up at Van.  "If you need to use the blood-pact," he said, "I have something you could use here."  He pulled a dagger from somewhere beneath his robes and tossed it to Van.  Van caught it clumsily and looked at Hitomi.  She nodded slightly.  He looked down at the dagger for a moment.  "You should hurry," the man said again.  It won't be long before the guards notice you're missing."  Realizing he was right, Van unsheathed the dagger and placed his thumb on the blade.  Biting his lower lip, he slowly ran his thumb down the length of the blade, not enough to cut it to the bone, but enough for it to cause some blood to trickle down it onto the globe.  When the blood made contact with it, the orb glowed very faintly.  Van placed it inside the large red gem, his hand passing through the surface like it was water.  As he pulled his hand out, he watched the massive guymelef, waiting for some sign of life. 

            At first there was nothing, but shortly there was a hiss of steam and with a metallic clank the chest-plate slid out and down as the helmet shot upward.  Van, caught off guard by the sudden movement, was flung to ground and stood up shakily to see the interior.  He shook himself off, and then climbed into the cockpit.  The hatch closed over him and the helmet slid down into place.  The guymelef got up slowly as Hitomi and the man watched in anticipation.  It stumbled a bit, but managed to stand upright.  The stranger stepped forward and looked up at the machine.  "You won't be able to leave here in that shape.  You'll have to use the flight mode to escape."

            The Escaflowne tilted its head down to the man.  "Flight mode?" Van's voice came from inside it.  "How do I activate it?"  He looked around the cockpit for something indicating what he had mentioned.  He spotted something that looked like a pair of handles, and grabbed hold of them, pulling them towards him.  All of a sudden, the weight of the suit of armor shifted.  Part of the chest plate extended forward, and the arms folded into the body.  The breast-plate altered once more, claws extending from it.  A wing skeleton unfolded from the shoulder pads and cloth "membranes" filled them, giving the illusion of dragon wings.  The legs altered their form and extended outward, into the shape of a tail.  An opening formed on the now transformed Escaflowne's back, and Van emerged, seated on a saddle-like apparatus, holding the reigns he had found a moment ago.  The man below was smiling in approval, and Hitomi ran up to join him in the saddle.  Van pulled back on the reigns ever so slightly, and the dragon's wings began to flap.  As he pulled back harder, the dragon flapped with more vigor, and soon they were airborne, watching the ground recede away from them.

            Daedalus stood there for a moment longer, watching the two of them head off into the night sky.  Perfect.  Now everything was finished.  All he had to do was inform the Count of the prisoner's "escape" and they would be labeled as fugitives, to be hunted down by every country in Gaea.  Van would have no where to go but to Belshezaar, and then they would have another Dragon Armor and its pilot in their hands.  He wrapped his cloak around himself and made his way back to the castle.

* * * *

            Wow!!  I love ulterior motives, don't you?  Well, now we're going to move on into the hunt for the Dragon Armors!  Will Van regain his memory!?  Will Belshezaar succeed with his plans!?  Will we find out what happened to Takashi!?  Will-

Ekaterini: HEY SHEN!!!

*sigh* (Will I ever be free from this Yaoi obsessed ninja-girl?)  What is it, Kat!?

Ekaterini: There were no G-Boys over there!!  My Quatre was nowhere to be found!!!

Gee what a shame…  Guess you gotta run now, huh?

Ekaterini: Not quite.  While I didn't find the G-Boys, I did find something interesting…

Oh really?  What?

Ekaterini: I'll show you.  *whistles*

(rumbling in the distance can be heard)  Oh, now I know that's not a good sign… (Hundreds of Cheese wheels roll into sight)

GAH!!!  How'd you get a hold of Andy's band of life-threatening cheese!!?

Ekaterini:  I promised to help them find a way around Zage's all-powerful laptop.

Damn you…  DAMN YOU, I SAY!!!

Ekaterini: Now that's not very nice.  Anyway…  Cheese, Shen?

GPAC: GET THE OTHER AUTHOR!!!

Cheeses: THE OTHER AUTHOOOOOOOOOOOR!!!!!!!!!

HOLY GARBONZO BEANS ON A STICK!!!  *runs away being chased by the hired cheese*