Hey!!! Thanks for your reviews peeps, much appreciated!!! Glad you enjoyed Chp14!! Remember, any comments, suggestions or questions are very welcome, so please write them down in your reviews. I will answer them in the following chapter. Anyway, enough of my rambling, on with Chapter 15.

Chapter 15: Escaflowne Returns

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Krystel opened her eyes. Looking around, she found herself tied up in a dimly lit room. The only light came from a flickering torch, which stood in the opposite corner of her small stone prison. A wooden door opened in the far end of the room, and someone, a boy, walked in. It was too dim for Krystel to recognise him by sight, for he had his back to the torch, blocking out the light. But there was no mistaking that icy, cruel voice. It was Dezir.

'How are you feeling, your Highness' he asked sarcastically, crouching down to face Krystel. He looked her over and sighed. 'Ahhh. Your pretty dress is all torn and dirty, not to mention your face and hair. Poor ickle Kwystel!' he said in mock pity. Laughing, he left the room, guards then entering with food and water for Krystel. Ah well, Krystel thought, at least he's going to feed me. The guards left after untying Krystel and putting her food on the floor. Krystel was too weak to try to run for it, but at least untying her gave her arms and legs a rest. When they had gone, locking the door behind them, Krystel made a futile attempt to stand. It was no use. Falling to the floor, tears came to her eyes. Banging the cobbled ground with her fist, she wept, whispering one word to herself, over and over again.

'Leon, Leon'

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As he walked down the forest path, memories swam through King Van's mind. Recollections of himself as a boy of 15, about the great burdens that had sat on his shoulders, what with the Great Destiny War, being King of Fanelia, the safety of thousands had lain in his hands. Then she had come. Hitomi, his one true love. She had made it so much better. That had been the only joy that Van had gained from the war. But he had had his share of great sorrow. His brother Folken was killed as he destroyed the leader of Zaibach. Folken. Pictures of his brother floated in his mind as Van reached the clearing, where his family's graves lay alongside it.

It. Escaflowne. The great white dragon gymelef. Walking over to it, Van took the glowing pink dragon-stone out of his pocket. Escaflowne's huge form kneeled over Van, draped in the green vines that had invaded its pale figure over the last 17 years. Though dormant for that long period of time, Van knew in his heart that the moment had come to awaken it once more. Sighing, the King stepped up to Escaflowne. Climbing over its metal limbs, Van reached the giant magenta stone that acted as Escaflowne's heart. Reaching out, ready to reawaken the life in his warrior giant, Van heard a voice behind him.

'No Van. Please, don't do it.' said the voice. Van turned to face the speaker. Standing there on the grass below him, was Hitomi. Her hands clasped to her chest, pleading him desperately not to do exactly what he knew he must.

'Hitomi. You know I have to. Krystel depends on it.' he told her, shaking his head at his beloved. Hitomi stood there, a picture of beauty and innocence as the wind played with her emerald, back-less dress, but great sadness and anxiety dwelled in the angel's heart of gold, as she feared for her young daughter's life.

'I know Van, I know. But, well, oh you know what happened last time you used Escaflowne. Every time it gets hurt, you do Van, and well, I don't want to lose you, I love you Van, and without you, I don't know what I would do.' Hitomi was close to tears, her jade eyes glistening in the sunlight. As a single tear slid down her tender cheek, her fair snow-white wings emerged from her back. Lifting off the ground, she flew up to join her love on Escaflowne's pallid arm. Reaching out to the King, he pulled her into a tight embrace.

'It's ok Hitomi, I love you, and I will never leave you. But I have to do this. If I don't, we may never see our daughter again. I know we may fail, but I've got to try. I've got to get her back.' Van whispered into Hitomi's honey-blonde curls, as she clung tightly to him. The Queen sighed, withdrew from Van's chest, and looked up into his eyes.

'I'm so confused. If we don't do this, we'll never get Krystel back, but if you do go out there, in Escaflowne, I know I may never see you again. But you're right. We owe it to our daughter. Put it in.' She nodded and looked down at the glowing ball in Van's hands. He lifted it up and turned to face Escaflowne's heart-stone. As the dragon-stone entered Escaflowne's heart, shimmering pink in Van's hand, a faint creaking sound could be heard deep in the centre of the great machine. All of a sudden, the two massive emerald stones sitting on Escaflowne's huge shoulders, radiated a lustrous sea green light, while the magenta heart-stone shone deep pink, enveloping the couple in its radiance. The head opened with a clank and a jet of air. Escaflowne had returned.

Glancing once more at his beautiful wife, King Van looked reluctantly at the opening into Escaflowne's control centre and leaped up. Taking his place in the pearly leather chair, much to the objection of his Queen, he got himself into place, and closed Escaflowne's head. Flying back to the ground, Hitomi desperately pleaded with Van, but Van ignored her. Stepping forward, Escaflowne's huge bulk gave a shudder. Suddenly, it collapsed in on itself, limbs folding inwards as smoothly as ever. In moments, what stood towering before Hitomi was no longer the human-shaped figure of Escaflowne, but a magnificent white dragon. With emerald eyes and the magenta heart stone lying underneath on its chest, the metal dragon was a picture of both power and elegance, proving the fact that beauty can be terrifying.

'I see you haven't lost your touch!' shouted Hitomi, smiling up at Van, who was perched upon Escaflowne's back, gripping the reins with determined strength. Van laughed.

'Come on, on you get love. We'll fly back to the castle.' Van beckoned to his wife. Hitomi sighed, and flew up to join the King. Holding tightly around Van's waist, the couple were lifted off the ground on Escaflowne's pale back. Soaring up out of the woods, towards Fanelia's town, the two lovers on the great gymelef looked towards the sunset. The sea reflected the sun's glittering light, shimmering like a sea of gold under a cloudless sky of crimson red. As they neared the town, they could see the castle in the dimming light, a pinkish hue radiating from its walls. Van sighed as he saw its beauty, and thought about what was to come, and what may happen to his beautiful home.

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Allen Shezar was walking along the castle grounds, when he saw them coming. A white spot against the scarlet sky, he puzzled over what it could be. Allen's golden hair lifted in the light breeze, while his blue eyes shone in amazement. He sighed when he discovered the identity of the soaring dot as it came closer to the castle.

'So, Escaflowne returns.'

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Well, there we are!!! Chapter 15 done. Escaflowne finally comes back, but what will the reactions be??? What about Krystel??? What has Dezir got planned for her?? Find out all that and more in the chapters to come!!!! Thanks for reading!!! Keep reviewing!!!! ^_____^!!! Happy writings!! Love Alex360.