Disclaimer: Escaflowne is not mine. I only own the OCs and storyline of this fanfic.
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Episode #6
Schoolgirls' Reunion
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Hitomi froze in horror. How could Allen be jealous? He was never one to hold a grudge or hate someone, and everyone knew it. It was like Allen had done a 180 with his personality, if that was possible!
Merle looked up curiously. She didn't really find interest in this topic. She was more of a "Oh, that argument! Get on with your life! That was so yesterday!" type of person. She began licking herself and slightly swatting at Hitomi's loose shoelace.
"How...?" Hitomi faded off.
They all stood silent for a while. None wishing to utter a word, for they did not trust their mouths to speak. Dryden was the one who finally broke the silence. He cleared his throat from the lump that had formed while they had talked.
"I will speak with Allen and get this predicament out of his head."
"Arrigato gozaimasu," Hitomi walked down the balcony. "I'd like to go for a ride, please. By myself." They reluctantly watched her mount a chocolate mare, and ride from the castle gates, out into the busy city. They didn't want her to go, but how could they warrant preventing her from searching her own thoughts?
* * * * *
Hitomi reached the middle of the forest that bordered the other side of Palas, opposite to the sea. This part of Palas was rarely used and was in such a state that it looked like a tornado had touched, without knocking any trees away. It was a complete disaster! The tree branches hung down miserably. Some even touched Hitomi's head. It was dark, save a tiny amount of golden sunlight that was strong enough to penetrate the thick tree tops.
A loose tree branch fell and landed right beside her with a loud thud! She looked in amazement how far away the branch had landed from her. Roughly about half a foot she had guessed. She shook off her amazement and tried to continue on her horse more quickly than usual.
The mare, frightened by the falling tree branch, suddenly reared up and tossed Hitomi off like a rag doll! She landed nearly underneath the horse! She had to twist and turn in many uncomfortable positions so that her steed's hooves wouldn't trample her to death!
A flash of light appeared, and the mare was gone! Hitomi stood up and brushed herself off. How was she to get back now?
She heard a flapping of large wings. She thought that for sure it was Van coming to take her back for lunch, for it was almost that time. Instead, a man she had recognized from before came up to her, and landed with his soft white wings on the ground in front of her. It was Tyreal.
She stared in awe. He was the Angel Tyreal! He had come to rescue her! Hitomi swung he arms in the air and asked for him to take her back to the castle.
"I will, once I show you something," Tyreal replied.
"Huh?" Hitomi followed him through the forest as he flew slowly on, just in front and above her head.
Tyreal stopped at a tall, stone building whose stones looked centuries old. He paused for Hitomi to catch her breath, and then gently flew her up the long flight of stairs that rose to the roof of the building.
The top of the building was patterned with flawlessly carved spirals, suns, and stars in an intricate circle chart. In the centre of the circle chart, was a pedestal of gold. It shone brightly in the sunlight with a happy glimmer and twinkle of delight.
Tyreal landed and set Hitomi down in front of the pedestal. Then he, himself, landed beside her. Now Hitomi could see an even more intricate pattern on the pedestal itself. There were many symbols, as though it were meant to tell a story of long ages passed. In the middle of the pedestal top, were two carved grooves in the surface, as if something small were to fit in them.
"Is this like Egyptian writing?" Hitomi asked, bending down to examine the pattern.
"Yes," Tyreal replied. "This is the story of the greatest battle yet."
"What do you mean?" Hitomi asked.
"The war between heaven and hell, good and evil," Tyreal explained. "This is the gateway between two worlds: Earth and Gaea. You can use this pedestal to go to and from either world, if you put the right key in the right lock."
"But, if I go to Earth, there's no way for me to get back to Gaea." Hitomi shrugged her shoulders.
"Yes, there is. On Earth, there is another pedestal, identical to this one. If you find it, then you can return, if you have the key to Gaea," Tyreal answered.
"What are these keys you speak of?"
"You own one already. There it is. It hangs round your neck," Tyreal said, pointing at her neck.
"My pendant?" Hitomi asked.
"Yes," Tyreal replied. "The one you gave Van Fanel is the Key of Gaea. It was created on Gaea by the greatest smiths of the age: the Atlantians.
"The same can be said for the one you hold round your neck now: the Key of Earth. It, too, was created on Earth by the greatest of that world. Yet, unlike Gaea, those masters had no name, to my knowledge. If they did, it has been long forgotten, even to me."
"Oh." Hitomi nodded her head: it felt light. She was struggling to assimilate all that she could of what she was being told, but her mind moved in circles, just like it had with Scython...
"The two keys may only be placed in their locks once. After that, they will not release from the pedestal. So, our enemy can't remove them, but neither can we. If the keys are placed in by hands that are pure and true, the gate will open and destroy the evil. If the hands are of evil intentions, the gate will open and destroy all allies of justice." Tyreal paused, looking at the locks. "It is crucial that you, the one the pendants chose, are the one to place them within, for the sake of all things whose purpose is the Light."
Hitomi nodded in agreement. "I understand."
"But now," Tyreal said hopefully, "it is time that I fulfilled my promise. You honoured me by coming with me, and now I will honour you by returning you to the castle."
"I suppose so," Hitomi replied softly, putting her thumb up to her lower lip as she pondered over the pedestal.
Tyreal picked Hitomi up and flew away into the horizon.
* * * * *
In her bedroom, Yukari sat, weeping. Her tears stained her cheeks and just under her eyes. She had been crying so much that her eyes had begun to hurt. She put a wet cloth up to her tear glands and dabbed gently.
Yukari's mother, May-Lin, was sitting beside her, stroking Yukari's hair sympathetically. May-Lin looked at her poor daughter thoughtfully. Her shining blue eyes reflecting Yukari's image. Yukari always felt safe and calm when that particular gaze crossed her mother's beautiful face.
"My poor Yukari...," May-Lin said, taking her daughter's head in her warm embrace. Yukari had let out many sobs and whimpers from scrapes and cuts and sometimes the loss of an old friend, but none so painfully audible and clearly miserable as the one she let out as her mother took her head in that soft embrace.
"How could Hitomi leave me again!?" Yukari sobbed. Now the heart ache she was feeling escalated as she remembered when Hitomi first left and didn't return for months.
"She'll be back," May-Lin said. "You'll see."
Yukari thought of something that made her weep even harder, "What if—?!"
May-Lin cut in quickly. "She'll be back."
Yukari looked at a picture of Hitomi and her that was on the night table. It did nothing but swell up new tears and sobs of agony.
Suddenly, there was a bright light, and to May-Lin's horror, she saw Yukari being lifted into the air! May-Lin reached up for her daughter, their fingers touched for an instant... then, Yukari was gone! Vanished right in front of her!
* * * * *
Van looked up from the letter he had just received from his advisor in Fanelia, to see a bright flash of light appear just near the outskirts of Palas. He was horrified by the thought that Hitomi had left him again. He ran down to the courtyard, jumped on a random horse (much to the mounted guard's dismay!), and rode out the gates hastily.
He moved as fast as the wind. Every moment bringing him closer to tears. What if Hitomi had left again?! He couldn't stand that a second time! He just couldn't! If it were true, he would die!
In minutes, he came to the place where the beam of light had touched the ground. He looked around. It was a clear brook. A small stream ran along banks of lush trees and grass. Water lilies floated on the surface of the water, and little tadpoles and frogs jumped in and out of the stream. Daisies and daffodils layered both sides of the brook, and they swayed gently in the breeze.
A low moan caught his ear, and he turned in its direction. There was a girl lying against a tree, her face was a little bruised, and her clothes were the same as Hitomi's school uniform that he was so accustomed to seeing. Also, the girl had watery blue eyes.
He looked at her in amazement, realizing that the girl must also be from the Mystic Moon. He took care lifting her onto his horse just before he, himself, mounted. Then, he gave the horse a gentle spur, and they were off at the same speed that he had come, knowing that the girl, most likely, needed medical attention.
* * * * *
Hitomi felt the cool breeze smack her face like a cold towel. She wondered where the breeze was coming from. Coming into view was the Astorian palace. Tyreal landed her carefully on the ground and took off again quickly, saying that if anyone but her were to see him, he would be banished from the heavens. Since angels were supposed to be creatures of legend, he would interrupt the natural order of things if he should be discovered.
She watched as he disappeared into the sky, and then she turned around. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Van come charging through the gates with an unconscious girl slung over his horse. Hitomi took a second look at the girl as Van pulled her from the steed. Hitomi recognized the girl and she ran to Van.
"Yukari!" Hitomi cried in disbelief.
"What?" Van asked.
"This is Yukari Minsuko, my best friend!" Hitomi said.
"Your friend?"
"Yes!" Hitomi repeated.
* * * * *
For several days Hitomi watched over Yukari while she was unconscious. Hitomi watched from dawn to midnight. Only when Van offered to take over did she sleep a bit.
On the evening of the seventh day of watching, Yukari open her eyes, finally. She felt light-headed, and somewhat like she was drunk.
"Hmmmm...," she moaned, holding her right hand against the side of her head.
"You're awake," said a voice.
"Hm... Who are you?" Yukari asked.
"My name is Van Fanel. Are you feeling any better?"
Yukari sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Yes..., arrigato. How long was I asleep?"
"You were unconscious for several days," Van replied calmly. "Hitomi watched over you almost constantly."
"Huh? Hitomi! You know Hitomi?"
"Yes. Where do you think she went the two times when she was bathed in that light?"
"Here?" Yukari gasped.
"Yes," Van smiled.
"Where is Hitomi?!" Yukari asked.
"She watched over you until lunch. Now, it is her turn to sleep," Van replied.
* * * * *
Not two hours later, Yukari was brought before Dryden, Millerna, Merle, and Damen. All welcomed her with open arms, and introduced themselves. She felt as though she were going to die from all the kindness they were giving her.
There was the sound of a door opening, and Yukari's eyes lit up with joy as Hitomi, robed in an emerald green gown, entered the room and waked over to the group. Yukari ran and embraced Hitomi in a long hug. Hitomi gasped for breath.
"All right, Yukari!" her friend giggled. "I missed you, too!"
TO BE CONTINUED...
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Episode #6
Schoolgirls' Reunion
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Hitomi froze in horror. How could Allen be jealous? He was never one to hold a grudge or hate someone, and everyone knew it. It was like Allen had done a 180 with his personality, if that was possible!
Merle looked up curiously. She didn't really find interest in this topic. She was more of a "Oh, that argument! Get on with your life! That was so yesterday!" type of person. She began licking herself and slightly swatting at Hitomi's loose shoelace.
"How...?" Hitomi faded off.
They all stood silent for a while. None wishing to utter a word, for they did not trust their mouths to speak. Dryden was the one who finally broke the silence. He cleared his throat from the lump that had formed while they had talked.
"I will speak with Allen and get this predicament out of his head."
"Arrigato gozaimasu," Hitomi walked down the balcony. "I'd like to go for a ride, please. By myself." They reluctantly watched her mount a chocolate mare, and ride from the castle gates, out into the busy city. They didn't want her to go, but how could they warrant preventing her from searching her own thoughts?
* * * * *
Hitomi reached the middle of the forest that bordered the other side of Palas, opposite to the sea. This part of Palas was rarely used and was in such a state that it looked like a tornado had touched, without knocking any trees away. It was a complete disaster! The tree branches hung down miserably. Some even touched Hitomi's head. It was dark, save a tiny amount of golden sunlight that was strong enough to penetrate the thick tree tops.
A loose tree branch fell and landed right beside her with a loud thud! She looked in amazement how far away the branch had landed from her. Roughly about half a foot she had guessed. She shook off her amazement and tried to continue on her horse more quickly than usual.
The mare, frightened by the falling tree branch, suddenly reared up and tossed Hitomi off like a rag doll! She landed nearly underneath the horse! She had to twist and turn in many uncomfortable positions so that her steed's hooves wouldn't trample her to death!
A flash of light appeared, and the mare was gone! Hitomi stood up and brushed herself off. How was she to get back now?
She heard a flapping of large wings. She thought that for sure it was Van coming to take her back for lunch, for it was almost that time. Instead, a man she had recognized from before came up to her, and landed with his soft white wings on the ground in front of her. It was Tyreal.
She stared in awe. He was the Angel Tyreal! He had come to rescue her! Hitomi swung he arms in the air and asked for him to take her back to the castle.
"I will, once I show you something," Tyreal replied.
"Huh?" Hitomi followed him through the forest as he flew slowly on, just in front and above her head.
Tyreal stopped at a tall, stone building whose stones looked centuries old. He paused for Hitomi to catch her breath, and then gently flew her up the long flight of stairs that rose to the roof of the building.
The top of the building was patterned with flawlessly carved spirals, suns, and stars in an intricate circle chart. In the centre of the circle chart, was a pedestal of gold. It shone brightly in the sunlight with a happy glimmer and twinkle of delight.
Tyreal landed and set Hitomi down in front of the pedestal. Then he, himself, landed beside her. Now Hitomi could see an even more intricate pattern on the pedestal itself. There were many symbols, as though it were meant to tell a story of long ages passed. In the middle of the pedestal top, were two carved grooves in the surface, as if something small were to fit in them.
"Is this like Egyptian writing?" Hitomi asked, bending down to examine the pattern.
"Yes," Tyreal replied. "This is the story of the greatest battle yet."
"What do you mean?" Hitomi asked.
"The war between heaven and hell, good and evil," Tyreal explained. "This is the gateway between two worlds: Earth and Gaea. You can use this pedestal to go to and from either world, if you put the right key in the right lock."
"But, if I go to Earth, there's no way for me to get back to Gaea." Hitomi shrugged her shoulders.
"Yes, there is. On Earth, there is another pedestal, identical to this one. If you find it, then you can return, if you have the key to Gaea," Tyreal answered.
"What are these keys you speak of?"
"You own one already. There it is. It hangs round your neck," Tyreal said, pointing at her neck.
"My pendant?" Hitomi asked.
"Yes," Tyreal replied. "The one you gave Van Fanel is the Key of Gaea. It was created on Gaea by the greatest smiths of the age: the Atlantians.
"The same can be said for the one you hold round your neck now: the Key of Earth. It, too, was created on Earth by the greatest of that world. Yet, unlike Gaea, those masters had no name, to my knowledge. If they did, it has been long forgotten, even to me."
"Oh." Hitomi nodded her head: it felt light. She was struggling to assimilate all that she could of what she was being told, but her mind moved in circles, just like it had with Scython...
"The two keys may only be placed in their locks once. After that, they will not release from the pedestal. So, our enemy can't remove them, but neither can we. If the keys are placed in by hands that are pure and true, the gate will open and destroy the evil. If the hands are of evil intentions, the gate will open and destroy all allies of justice." Tyreal paused, looking at the locks. "It is crucial that you, the one the pendants chose, are the one to place them within, for the sake of all things whose purpose is the Light."
Hitomi nodded in agreement. "I understand."
"But now," Tyreal said hopefully, "it is time that I fulfilled my promise. You honoured me by coming with me, and now I will honour you by returning you to the castle."
"I suppose so," Hitomi replied softly, putting her thumb up to her lower lip as she pondered over the pedestal.
Tyreal picked Hitomi up and flew away into the horizon.
* * * * *
In her bedroom, Yukari sat, weeping. Her tears stained her cheeks and just under her eyes. She had been crying so much that her eyes had begun to hurt. She put a wet cloth up to her tear glands and dabbed gently.
Yukari's mother, May-Lin, was sitting beside her, stroking Yukari's hair sympathetically. May-Lin looked at her poor daughter thoughtfully. Her shining blue eyes reflecting Yukari's image. Yukari always felt safe and calm when that particular gaze crossed her mother's beautiful face.
"My poor Yukari...," May-Lin said, taking her daughter's head in her warm embrace. Yukari had let out many sobs and whimpers from scrapes and cuts and sometimes the loss of an old friend, but none so painfully audible and clearly miserable as the one she let out as her mother took her head in that soft embrace.
"How could Hitomi leave me again!?" Yukari sobbed. Now the heart ache she was feeling escalated as she remembered when Hitomi first left and didn't return for months.
"She'll be back," May-Lin said. "You'll see."
Yukari thought of something that made her weep even harder, "What if—?!"
May-Lin cut in quickly. "She'll be back."
Yukari looked at a picture of Hitomi and her that was on the night table. It did nothing but swell up new tears and sobs of agony.
Suddenly, there was a bright light, and to May-Lin's horror, she saw Yukari being lifted into the air! May-Lin reached up for her daughter, their fingers touched for an instant... then, Yukari was gone! Vanished right in front of her!
* * * * *
Van looked up from the letter he had just received from his advisor in Fanelia, to see a bright flash of light appear just near the outskirts of Palas. He was horrified by the thought that Hitomi had left him again. He ran down to the courtyard, jumped on a random horse (much to the mounted guard's dismay!), and rode out the gates hastily.
He moved as fast as the wind. Every moment bringing him closer to tears. What if Hitomi had left again?! He couldn't stand that a second time! He just couldn't! If it were true, he would die!
In minutes, he came to the place where the beam of light had touched the ground. He looked around. It was a clear brook. A small stream ran along banks of lush trees and grass. Water lilies floated on the surface of the water, and little tadpoles and frogs jumped in and out of the stream. Daisies and daffodils layered both sides of the brook, and they swayed gently in the breeze.
A low moan caught his ear, and he turned in its direction. There was a girl lying against a tree, her face was a little bruised, and her clothes were the same as Hitomi's school uniform that he was so accustomed to seeing. Also, the girl had watery blue eyes.
He looked at her in amazement, realizing that the girl must also be from the Mystic Moon. He took care lifting her onto his horse just before he, himself, mounted. Then, he gave the horse a gentle spur, and they were off at the same speed that he had come, knowing that the girl, most likely, needed medical attention.
* * * * *
Hitomi felt the cool breeze smack her face like a cold towel. She wondered where the breeze was coming from. Coming into view was the Astorian palace. Tyreal landed her carefully on the ground and took off again quickly, saying that if anyone but her were to see him, he would be banished from the heavens. Since angels were supposed to be creatures of legend, he would interrupt the natural order of things if he should be discovered.
She watched as he disappeared into the sky, and then she turned around. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Van come charging through the gates with an unconscious girl slung over his horse. Hitomi took a second look at the girl as Van pulled her from the steed. Hitomi recognized the girl and she ran to Van.
"Yukari!" Hitomi cried in disbelief.
"What?" Van asked.
"This is Yukari Minsuko, my best friend!" Hitomi said.
"Your friend?"
"Yes!" Hitomi repeated.
* * * * *
For several days Hitomi watched over Yukari while she was unconscious. Hitomi watched from dawn to midnight. Only when Van offered to take over did she sleep a bit.
On the evening of the seventh day of watching, Yukari open her eyes, finally. She felt light-headed, and somewhat like she was drunk.
"Hmmmm...," she moaned, holding her right hand against the side of her head.
"You're awake," said a voice.
"Hm... Who are you?" Yukari asked.
"My name is Van Fanel. Are you feeling any better?"
Yukari sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Yes..., arrigato. How long was I asleep?"
"You were unconscious for several days," Van replied calmly. "Hitomi watched over you almost constantly."
"Huh? Hitomi! You know Hitomi?"
"Yes. Where do you think she went the two times when she was bathed in that light?"
"Here?" Yukari gasped.
"Yes," Van smiled.
"Where is Hitomi?!" Yukari asked.
"She watched over you until lunch. Now, it is her turn to sleep," Van replied.
* * * * *
Not two hours later, Yukari was brought before Dryden, Millerna, Merle, and Damen. All welcomed her with open arms, and introduced themselves. She felt as though she were going to die from all the kindness they were giving her.
There was the sound of a door opening, and Yukari's eyes lit up with joy as Hitomi, robed in an emerald green gown, entered the room and waked over to the group. Yukari ran and embraced Hitomi in a long hug. Hitomi gasped for breath.
"All right, Yukari!" her friend giggled. "I missed you, too!"
TO BE CONTINUED...