Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
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Episode #13
Destiny Fulfilled
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Hitomi sat at her desk and peered, intrigued, at the letter. First, how she was to fulfill his advice; and second, how had he gotten the letter into her dress collar!
She looked up lazily at the wall size windows to her right. The sun was setting below the mountains to the east and it gave a wonderful golden hue to the Astorian fields and urban lands.
The letter fell from her reluctant hand and she stood, unaware she dropped it. Everything looked like a dainty dream, and she did not wish to leave it. She saw the dream fade to blackness. A voice reeled in her head, calling out words long forgotten to mortals, but found she could understand.
"The pillar of light shall appear,
Black stone's shall rise,
People run in fear.
One shall pay for the lies."
'What!?' she thought, terrified. 'What does this mean!?'
She saw everything around her burst into dust all at once. She saw her hands doing the same as she looked down at them. She screamed. Then... she was back in her room again, peering out the windows at the golden sunset.
"No!" she gasped. "Not another one! Another... vision of the future? Or... something else?" She looked down at her hands, they were shaking uncontrollably. She attempted to steady herself, and succeeded.
She looked over at the door, no one was coming. Maybe the scream was only audible by those who entered that blackness. Who would ever know? Moving swiftly, Hitomi went to the door, opened it, and made her way down stairs.
* * * * *
"No!" Perniticon yelled in anger. "My best general and my best soldier: dead! All because Tri had a softness for the Angyst, HAH!"
Perniticon was not in what you would say 'the best of moods'. He had been ranting and raving ever since his two prisoners had made off with Hitomi. He looked at the glass cup in his hand and the intricate pattern etched into it. Then, with all the force he could muster, he hurled the cup through the air and it hit the wall and shattered to pieces.
Perniticon gritted his teeth in frustration Suddenly, he stopped gritting his teeth and smiled wickedly. He narrowed his eyes to slits and let out a hummed laugh.
"Hm hm hm! I know what to do."
* * * * *
Hitomi ran down to the dining hall and opened the door. All were waiting for her. Merle smiled at her and made the most friendly (and annoying) remark she could muster.
"You sure took your sweet old time, didn't you! We were going to start without you. What were you doing, taking a nap?"
Hitomi glanced at her and Merle turned silent, regretting her remark very much. Then Hitomi took her place beside Yukari near the end of the table.
Even though Hitomi kept to herself throughout the entire meal as she usually did, Van could sense an uneasiness growing in her. And just when he had the courage to ask her as they were standing from the table, Ariel and Pedoru ran in and embraced Hitomi's waste. They had not been permitted to see her since the beginning of her coma, for Millerna feared they would be traumatized, by her state as well as the war.
Ariel sniffled as tears came to her eyes. "Oh, Mommy! We felt like we'd lost you again!"
"Mommy!" all replied but Hitomi and Van and Pedoru.
"Yes," Hitomi replied, "Ariel and Pedoru are... Well, their from the future and Van and I are their parents in that time. But, in that time, Van and I are both dead."
"Oh," Millerna replied, looking at the children. "Well, if that's the case, then you two are welcome in my home as long as you wish."
"Thank you very much," Ariel and Pedoru chirped, bowing their heads in thanks.
Van beamed down at the two. Even though he was not their father... yet, he was eternally proud of them and how they minded their manners at all times. They inherited that from Hitomi. But when it came to their beliefs, Van was their idol! Both children would sooner spit on an allies foot than surrender. He also noted how curious they could be, like Hitomi.
Van turned to Hitomi, tall and pale. He saw the glimmer of sorrow in her eyes. She looked like a gust of wind blowing wistfully through a forests' trees. He saw a tiny tear well up in her eye and then disappear.
"Hitomi," Van whispered for her ear alone, "what's the matter?"
Hitomi looked at him. "I'll tell you later." Then she went back to playing with Ariel.
* * * * *
It was later in the evening when Van approached Hitomi again on the palace roof. He walked to her and put a hand on the stone railing. Hitomi stood silent for a moment, then spoke with a quivering voice.
"Yukari wants to go back to the Mystic Moon as soon as possible. And I promised I'd find a way to return her to Amano. But... I don't know how."
Van's sympathetic eyes changed to an inquiring look. "Amano? Oh, the boy you used to like before you first came to Gaea, right?"
"Yes," Hitomi said softly. "I'm Yukari's best friend... and I didn't notice it until I went back home. I wouldn't have gone back if I'd known Yukari and Amano liked each other. I would have stayed here, with you."
"Perhaps it was better that you did go back," Van replied, looking at the sky.
"Why?" Hitomi asked.
"It gave us time to grow and mature more. And it proved this was love between us, not infatuation. But, don't think I'll ever let you go again, because I won't! Not ever!"
Hitomi giggled and looked at him. "You can always make me laugh, Van." Her smile faded. "But I don't want to lose my best friend. Though, I won't hold her here. I'll find a way to send her back so she will be happy, as I am here, with you and everyone else."
"I will help you find a way to send her back," Van smiled.
Hitomi's head shot up and she looked at him. "Oh, Van. Arrigato! Arrigato gozaimasu!!" Hitomi threw her arms round Van's neck and kissed him passionately.
As Hitomi jumped at Van, the pendant Hitomi had given him so long ago began to glow. The light surrounded them. The last thing they could remember was seeing the Astorian capitol far below them. Then everything went flashing white and they passed out.
* * * * *
Yukari opened her eyes. She recalled a blinding light surrounding her as she was lying on her bed reading. Then, the city was far below her.
She sat up impatiently and looked around. She saw Van lying a few yards away, the rest of the room was pitch black.
As she looked at Van, he jumped up, eyes ablaze with fury. "Hitomi! Where are you?!!"
"She's perfectly fine," the voice of Perniticon said as he emerged from the shadows once more. "For the moment, that is."
Van growled, grinding his teeth hard against each other. "You! What have you done to her!"
"Nothing... yet," Perniticon smiled.
Yukari stared. Who was this monster? What did he want with Hitomi? Yukari looked behind her. She screamed and Van turned in response. "Hitomi!!!!"
Hitomi was bound to a high pole, her hands and feet bound with cruel rope. Her eyes were closed. The form let out a moan of pain, and she opened her eyes. Dried tears reddened her cheeks.
Van gasped, and his rage grew. He leapt at the pole, wishing to slice the ropes. Hitomi cried out a protesting "NO!!!!"
Van's body shook as a small bolt of lightning struck him. He fell to the floor and looked up at Hitomi, one eye closed with pain.
"Stupid boy," Perniticon chuckled. "That was but a warning. Try to free her again and you'll feel the consequences ten fold. But now, sit back and watch, as your precious Gaea and the Mystic Moon turn to dust, with you on it!" Perniticon let out a wicked laugh.
Yukari and Van watched helplessly while Hitomi cried out as all Perniticon's evil energy flowed through her veins! Hitomi could feel the sensation from her head all the way to her toes. The feeling washed over her.
'No!' Hitomi thought. 'He can't win! Hitomi, focus everything! Pendant's, please, give me the power. Princess of Light, Angyst, please help me!' Little did Hitomi know, Yukari also prayed for the Angyst to save Hitomi.
Van and Yukari watched as Hitomi began to glow. Her body changed back into that young woman: Angyst.
The ropes ripped as two long, white wings burst from her back. She flew a few feet above Perniticon's head. She opened the palm of her hand and a sword, glimmering like silver, appeared in the centre of it. She pointed the sword down at Perniticon. Her gentle but firm voice rang with eternal power of the heavens.
"Perniticon, my brother, how can you justify yourself for your evil?"
"I do not have to answer to you, sister!" Perniticon thrust a ball of fire at Angyst. The fire hit her head, and she fell down beside Van.
Both lovers were sprawled on the floor and were facing each other.
"Oh, my knight," Angyst said, tears pouring. "It looks like we've lost after all."
"No! I'll never give up!" Van replied.
Van then reached out his hand along the floor and invited hers to join. She reached for his hand, their fingertips were millimeters away. Both stretched their arms as long as possible but still hey could not reach. Van let out a cry as Perniticon foot came crashing down upon him to prevent them locking hands. At the impact, Van's body shoved forward ever so slightly and Hitomi and he entwined their hands.
"No!!" Perniticon cried. His body began melting into a mist.
Angyst and Van stood up with renewed strength, their hands still locked, and a aura surrounding them. Van's clothes changed to garments that match the Angyst's: Angel-Knight.
Angyst and Angel-Knight entwined hands, held her sword hilt. At the same time, they raised it above their heads and another light came racing down on the whole room. Yukari was blinded, and in an instant, they were in front of the gate to Earth.
Angyst motioned Yukari to her. Yukari obeyed and the two girls stepped up to the gates pedestal.
"Yukari," Angyst said, looking up at the mist which was Perniticon. "You must hurry, before he changes back to his physical form."
"What? Uh, what do I do?" Yukari stammered.
Angyst pulled off the pendant round her neck, and approached the pedestal. She gently placed the pendant in the left slot.
"This will open the gate to the Zin Vault, where Perniticon shall be imprisoned."
A pillar of light opened. The light gave way a black stone rising up, opening the door to the Zin Vault: Heaven's prison of the damned — those too powerful to place in the Underworld. Swirling souls cried out from their prison. The mist of Perniticon was sucked into the vortex of swimming souls. Then the light dissipated.
Angyst smiled at Yukari. "Unfortunately, Perniticon is cunning. There is still chance he will escape, but not for a very, very long time..." Angyst closed her eyes, then opened them again. "Now, Yukari, it is time for you to go home."
"What?" Yukari replied.
Angyst moved to the pedestal from her place by Van (who had changed back from the Angel-Knight). She moved to place the pendant she had given Van into the second slot, then stopped.
A second later, the Angyst let loose Hitomi: short hair, emerald eyes, and all. "Goodbye, Yukari. I want you to live long and happy. And, say a silent goodbye to my family for me. I am glad to have been friends with you."
"Hitomi, I... I will. I'm happy to have been your friend, too. And... you live happy and long as well. Goodbye."
Hitomi placeded the pendant into the slot. A light appeared around Yukari. As she was lifted high above them, Yukari let out one, final promise to her best friend:
"I promise, I'll never forget about you, Hitomi, or anyone from Gaea!"
Van and Hitomi smiled at her and waved a last goodbye.
* * * * *
Millerna, Dryden, Ariel, Pedoru, Allen, Celena, Merle, and Damen stood watching the light in the distant forest. They were on the palace roof.
"Goodbye, Yukari," they all said in their own way.
Suddenly, Ariel and Pedoru began to disappear. They looked at all the others.
"Goodbye everyone!" Ariel cried. "Please say goodbye to Mommy and Daddy for us!"
Pedoru smiled, "And tell them we shall live happily in our time! Perniticon was destroyed here, in the past, so our future has been changed! They are alive in our time now!"
Then, the two children disappeared from that time... forever.
* * * * *
Yukari looked up at the sky. She stood on the platform at the train station on her way home. She was the lone person on the platform. She smiled at the moon and whispered to it
"Goodbye, Hitomi. I wish you, Van, and all them all the luck on Earth. And... thank you."
THE END
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Episode #13
Destiny Fulfilled
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Hitomi sat at her desk and peered, intrigued, at the letter. First, how she was to fulfill his advice; and second, how had he gotten the letter into her dress collar!
She looked up lazily at the wall size windows to her right. The sun was setting below the mountains to the east and it gave a wonderful golden hue to the Astorian fields and urban lands.
The letter fell from her reluctant hand and she stood, unaware she dropped it. Everything looked like a dainty dream, and she did not wish to leave it. She saw the dream fade to blackness. A voice reeled in her head, calling out words long forgotten to mortals, but found she could understand.
"The pillar of light shall appear,
Black stone's shall rise,
People run in fear.
One shall pay for the lies."
'What!?' she thought, terrified. 'What does this mean!?'
She saw everything around her burst into dust all at once. She saw her hands doing the same as she looked down at them. She screamed. Then... she was back in her room again, peering out the windows at the golden sunset.
"No!" she gasped. "Not another one! Another... vision of the future? Or... something else?" She looked down at her hands, they were shaking uncontrollably. She attempted to steady herself, and succeeded.
She looked over at the door, no one was coming. Maybe the scream was only audible by those who entered that blackness. Who would ever know? Moving swiftly, Hitomi went to the door, opened it, and made her way down stairs.
* * * * *
"No!" Perniticon yelled in anger. "My best general and my best soldier: dead! All because Tri had a softness for the Angyst, HAH!"
Perniticon was not in what you would say 'the best of moods'. He had been ranting and raving ever since his two prisoners had made off with Hitomi. He looked at the glass cup in his hand and the intricate pattern etched into it. Then, with all the force he could muster, he hurled the cup through the air and it hit the wall and shattered to pieces.
Perniticon gritted his teeth in frustration Suddenly, he stopped gritting his teeth and smiled wickedly. He narrowed his eyes to slits and let out a hummed laugh.
"Hm hm hm! I know what to do."
* * * * *
Hitomi ran down to the dining hall and opened the door. All were waiting for her. Merle smiled at her and made the most friendly (and annoying) remark she could muster.
"You sure took your sweet old time, didn't you! We were going to start without you. What were you doing, taking a nap?"
Hitomi glanced at her and Merle turned silent, regretting her remark very much. Then Hitomi took her place beside Yukari near the end of the table.
Even though Hitomi kept to herself throughout the entire meal as she usually did, Van could sense an uneasiness growing in her. And just when he had the courage to ask her as they were standing from the table, Ariel and Pedoru ran in and embraced Hitomi's waste. They had not been permitted to see her since the beginning of her coma, for Millerna feared they would be traumatized, by her state as well as the war.
Ariel sniffled as tears came to her eyes. "Oh, Mommy! We felt like we'd lost you again!"
"Mommy!" all replied but Hitomi and Van and Pedoru.
"Yes," Hitomi replied, "Ariel and Pedoru are... Well, their from the future and Van and I are their parents in that time. But, in that time, Van and I are both dead."
"Oh," Millerna replied, looking at the children. "Well, if that's the case, then you two are welcome in my home as long as you wish."
"Thank you very much," Ariel and Pedoru chirped, bowing their heads in thanks.
Van beamed down at the two. Even though he was not their father... yet, he was eternally proud of them and how they minded their manners at all times. They inherited that from Hitomi. But when it came to their beliefs, Van was their idol! Both children would sooner spit on an allies foot than surrender. He also noted how curious they could be, like Hitomi.
Van turned to Hitomi, tall and pale. He saw the glimmer of sorrow in her eyes. She looked like a gust of wind blowing wistfully through a forests' trees. He saw a tiny tear well up in her eye and then disappear.
"Hitomi," Van whispered for her ear alone, "what's the matter?"
Hitomi looked at him. "I'll tell you later." Then she went back to playing with Ariel.
* * * * *
It was later in the evening when Van approached Hitomi again on the palace roof. He walked to her and put a hand on the stone railing. Hitomi stood silent for a moment, then spoke with a quivering voice.
"Yukari wants to go back to the Mystic Moon as soon as possible. And I promised I'd find a way to return her to Amano. But... I don't know how."
Van's sympathetic eyes changed to an inquiring look. "Amano? Oh, the boy you used to like before you first came to Gaea, right?"
"Yes," Hitomi said softly. "I'm Yukari's best friend... and I didn't notice it until I went back home. I wouldn't have gone back if I'd known Yukari and Amano liked each other. I would have stayed here, with you."
"Perhaps it was better that you did go back," Van replied, looking at the sky.
"Why?" Hitomi asked.
"It gave us time to grow and mature more. And it proved this was love between us, not infatuation. But, don't think I'll ever let you go again, because I won't! Not ever!"
Hitomi giggled and looked at him. "You can always make me laugh, Van." Her smile faded. "But I don't want to lose my best friend. Though, I won't hold her here. I'll find a way to send her back so she will be happy, as I am here, with you and everyone else."
"I will help you find a way to send her back," Van smiled.
Hitomi's head shot up and she looked at him. "Oh, Van. Arrigato! Arrigato gozaimasu!!" Hitomi threw her arms round Van's neck and kissed him passionately.
As Hitomi jumped at Van, the pendant Hitomi had given him so long ago began to glow. The light surrounded them. The last thing they could remember was seeing the Astorian capitol far below them. Then everything went flashing white and they passed out.
* * * * *
Yukari opened her eyes. She recalled a blinding light surrounding her as she was lying on her bed reading. Then, the city was far below her.
She sat up impatiently and looked around. She saw Van lying a few yards away, the rest of the room was pitch black.
As she looked at Van, he jumped up, eyes ablaze with fury. "Hitomi! Where are you?!!"
"She's perfectly fine," the voice of Perniticon said as he emerged from the shadows once more. "For the moment, that is."
Van growled, grinding his teeth hard against each other. "You! What have you done to her!"
"Nothing... yet," Perniticon smiled.
Yukari stared. Who was this monster? What did he want with Hitomi? Yukari looked behind her. She screamed and Van turned in response. "Hitomi!!!!"
Hitomi was bound to a high pole, her hands and feet bound with cruel rope. Her eyes were closed. The form let out a moan of pain, and she opened her eyes. Dried tears reddened her cheeks.
Van gasped, and his rage grew. He leapt at the pole, wishing to slice the ropes. Hitomi cried out a protesting "NO!!!!"
Van's body shook as a small bolt of lightning struck him. He fell to the floor and looked up at Hitomi, one eye closed with pain.
"Stupid boy," Perniticon chuckled. "That was but a warning. Try to free her again and you'll feel the consequences ten fold. But now, sit back and watch, as your precious Gaea and the Mystic Moon turn to dust, with you on it!" Perniticon let out a wicked laugh.
Yukari and Van watched helplessly while Hitomi cried out as all Perniticon's evil energy flowed through her veins! Hitomi could feel the sensation from her head all the way to her toes. The feeling washed over her.
'No!' Hitomi thought. 'He can't win! Hitomi, focus everything! Pendant's, please, give me the power. Princess of Light, Angyst, please help me!' Little did Hitomi know, Yukari also prayed for the Angyst to save Hitomi.
Van and Yukari watched as Hitomi began to glow. Her body changed back into that young woman: Angyst.
The ropes ripped as two long, white wings burst from her back. She flew a few feet above Perniticon's head. She opened the palm of her hand and a sword, glimmering like silver, appeared in the centre of it. She pointed the sword down at Perniticon. Her gentle but firm voice rang with eternal power of the heavens.
"Perniticon, my brother, how can you justify yourself for your evil?"
"I do not have to answer to you, sister!" Perniticon thrust a ball of fire at Angyst. The fire hit her head, and she fell down beside Van.
Both lovers were sprawled on the floor and were facing each other.
"Oh, my knight," Angyst said, tears pouring. "It looks like we've lost after all."
"No! I'll never give up!" Van replied.
Van then reached out his hand along the floor and invited hers to join. She reached for his hand, their fingertips were millimeters away. Both stretched their arms as long as possible but still hey could not reach. Van let out a cry as Perniticon foot came crashing down upon him to prevent them locking hands. At the impact, Van's body shoved forward ever so slightly and Hitomi and he entwined their hands.
"No!!" Perniticon cried. His body began melting into a mist.
Angyst and Van stood up with renewed strength, their hands still locked, and a aura surrounding them. Van's clothes changed to garments that match the Angyst's: Angel-Knight.
Angyst and Angel-Knight entwined hands, held her sword hilt. At the same time, they raised it above their heads and another light came racing down on the whole room. Yukari was blinded, and in an instant, they were in front of the gate to Earth.
Angyst motioned Yukari to her. Yukari obeyed and the two girls stepped up to the gates pedestal.
"Yukari," Angyst said, looking up at the mist which was Perniticon. "You must hurry, before he changes back to his physical form."
"What? Uh, what do I do?" Yukari stammered.
Angyst pulled off the pendant round her neck, and approached the pedestal. She gently placed the pendant in the left slot.
"This will open the gate to the Zin Vault, where Perniticon shall be imprisoned."
A pillar of light opened. The light gave way a black stone rising up, opening the door to the Zin Vault: Heaven's prison of the damned — those too powerful to place in the Underworld. Swirling souls cried out from their prison. The mist of Perniticon was sucked into the vortex of swimming souls. Then the light dissipated.
Angyst smiled at Yukari. "Unfortunately, Perniticon is cunning. There is still chance he will escape, but not for a very, very long time..." Angyst closed her eyes, then opened them again. "Now, Yukari, it is time for you to go home."
"What?" Yukari replied.
Angyst moved to the pedestal from her place by Van (who had changed back from the Angel-Knight). She moved to place the pendant she had given Van into the second slot, then stopped.
A second later, the Angyst let loose Hitomi: short hair, emerald eyes, and all. "Goodbye, Yukari. I want you to live long and happy. And, say a silent goodbye to my family for me. I am glad to have been friends with you."
"Hitomi, I... I will. I'm happy to have been your friend, too. And... you live happy and long as well. Goodbye."
Hitomi placeded the pendant into the slot. A light appeared around Yukari. As she was lifted high above them, Yukari let out one, final promise to her best friend:
"I promise, I'll never forget about you, Hitomi, or anyone from Gaea!"
Van and Hitomi smiled at her and waved a last goodbye.
* * * * *
Millerna, Dryden, Ariel, Pedoru, Allen, Celena, Merle, and Damen stood watching the light in the distant forest. They were on the palace roof.
"Goodbye, Yukari," they all said in their own way.
Suddenly, Ariel and Pedoru began to disappear. They looked at all the others.
"Goodbye everyone!" Ariel cried. "Please say goodbye to Mommy and Daddy for us!"
Pedoru smiled, "And tell them we shall live happily in our time! Perniticon was destroyed here, in the past, so our future has been changed! They are alive in our time now!"
Then, the two children disappeared from that time... forever.
* * * * *
Yukari looked up at the sky. She stood on the platform at the train station on her way home. She was the lone person on the platform. She smiled at the moon and whispered to it
"Goodbye, Hitomi. I wish you, Van, and all them all the luck on Earth. And... thank you."
THE END