I'm so sorry, I haven't been updating! Please forgive me, but I don't want to rush the ending! Please bear with the stupid war, and enjoy the chapter below.


Chapter 18-
What Comes Next

Van Fanel, King of Fanelia, sat alone in his study, still in deep shock. War...? He couldn't believe it possible, especially after everything the whole planet of Gaea had gone through during the Destiny War a year ago. Van held the declaration of war in his hand, as if through it he could grasp it fully in his mind.

Surely King Gendas had suffered the same kind of losses during the Destiny War. Maybe he had recovered quickly from them, being ruler of a prosperous country. But still, what had he to gain from this war? Fanelia... it couldn't have anything of value that the desert king would want, could it? It was obvious to him that it was far beyond revenge for his daughter's death. So Van tried to think of what it could be, but nothing came to him.

He put the war document inside his desk, seating himself in the chair next to it. He put his head in his hands, leaning forward until his elbows brushed his knees. Rubbing his temples, he finally felt at a loss. Had it been something in the way he presented his own letter that had angered Gendas? Van remembered that he had read it over several times before he sent it to be delivered, in addition to letting one of his senior lords look over it. The old man had found nothing wrong with it, as Van had as well. What in the world was it then?

Van recalled an excerpt of the letter he had written, his primary reason that peace should remain between them. It had read: "I beseech you, sir; Your daughter, and my wife of a regrettably short period of time, Faye Genthilia, begged to me that I hold no grudge against you, and keep peace between us. She declared this in the face of death, and being true wisdom, I will acknowledge it. I loved Faye, as I know you did; and we both may honour her in this promise of peace." What had happened? Van could still not find the offence in his peace document.

He stood up, making it clear in his mind that if Gendas wished for war, it would only be polite to receive him that way. As a king, it seemed only natural to do so, but the love he held for the people of Fanelia... he did not wish to send them to war. They had already been through so much in the last two years. Van struggled as the two opposite sides of his duties as king clashed with each other. In the end, he decided the acceptance of war would be the best route to go; the people of Fanelia make lose trust in their king if he did not trust them to be able to fight. He nodded to himself, now knowing what he must do.

Van walked to the door and upon opening it, discovered that his lords were standing about in the hallway. Van had requested to be left alone so he could come to a decision, so apparently his lords had taken to waiting outside the door. When he did emerge from his study, they were all upon him. "King Van! What is your decision?" The young king looked around at all of them, their faces as tired and haggard as his. Van had stayed up far into the night, not only to think things through, but also to avoid seeing those close to him. So far, only Hitomi knew about the war declaration; Van intended not to let anyone else know, at least for now.

Now the men were gathered around him; with held breath, waiting for him to answer. Van raised his head high and slowly tilted it forward in a nod. Their reaction was solemn as well, as the men nodded back, acknowledging his decision. With heavy hearts, one of them spoke, "Then let the preparations for war begin. King Van, I will talk to your Chief Commander. You must also ask your allied countries for support..." Van nodded, only half-listening to him as he explained what must be done. Van had never commanded an army before; he didn't know what was to be expected of him. Clearing his head, he replied, "Very well. I will talk with Prin- Queen Millerna. If you'll excuse me, gentlemen..." With that, he parted the crowd to go speak with the Queen of Asturia.

Millerna reacted with shock when Van recounted the last night to her. He had approached her as she was getting ready to leave for Asturia the next day with Allen, Selena, and Eries. Her hands had begun shaking as she raised them to her face, shaking her head.

"Van, is it really true? I never believed Gendas to be so hasty..." Van put his hand on her shoulder. "Millerna," he began, "I beg you. Fanelia is still in no condition to fight this war. I need Asturia's help. Will you aid me?" She was quick to respond.

"Yes. Asturia will help you... if only Dryden were here. Oh well, I'm sure he would agree with me." she said, more to herself than to Van. "I'll tell my sister, and Allen... we'll leave for Asturia as soon as possible, to prepare. Van, I'm so sorry." she added as he began to leave the room. He glanced back at her, smiling sadly as he closed the door.

Van walked down to the next room, the room where Hitomi was staying. Raising his hand to knock, he was surprised when the door swung open wide to reveal Hitomi, dressed in a housecoat, her hair in disarray. Judging from her appearance, she had not slept at all last night either, most likely waiting for his decision. "Hitomi..." he said, as he looked up and down and around, anywhere but at her face. Even though she knew what he had to say, Hitomi wouldn't let him stall. Putting her hand to his face, she turned it toward her own and asked, "Is it bad, Van?" Her hand still to his face, he nodded. "Fanelia will go to war." Despite her expectation that he would say this, she still felt like breaking down right there. However, all she said was, "I see. Well, Van..." but she couldn't continue.

Van sensed that her voice had wavered, so he put his hands on her shoulders. At this small gesture, Hitomi did break down, almost falling into his arms. "Van, Van... this can't be happening." she said, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I thought it was all over forever; no more sadness or death. But it's starting again..." She went silent, as if waiting for him to say something comforting to her. After awhile, he did have words for her.

"Hitomi, I'm sorry to put you through all this." She looked up into his face when he said, "If you want to return to the Mystic Moon right now, I won't stop you. I don't want you to experience any more pain because of me." Hitomi shook her head, declining his offer. "No, I couldn't leave you right here now, in this predicament. Remember how we were during the Destiny War? Even I must admit we were an unstoppable pair." In spite of herself, she smiled at the past war's events. Hitomi had held her pendant high, able to help Escaflowne see through Zaibach's invisible cloaks. Would this be the same? Would she be able to help? She knew she didn't have her pendant anymore, but she wanted to do something. However, Van did not smile back.

"I can't see you hurt any more. Hitomi, go back to the Mystic Moon, please!" Hitomi was shocked at his sudden outburst; did he really want her to leave now, when they both needed each other most? Still Hitomi shook her head again, declaring she wouldn't leave. "No. I will never leave you. Not now, not ever." Despite saying this, a part of her hesitated. Would she just get in the way? She remembered how, after the death of Folken, Van's brother, she had just wanted to get away from everything. This was all going to come back; why didn't she just leave? Because it's selfishness, she thought to herself. Why should I be spared from this war, when I am just as much a part of this world as anyone else?

"Van, you're just being selfish." she declared. He was taken aback, responding, "What do you mean?" Hitomi replied, "You don't want to see me hurt, but what about how I feel? I don't want you to hurt either. So if I go back, I won't always know how you are, but you will know that I'm safe. Van, I wouldn't know if you were alive or dead, and I couldn't stand it!" She felt like slapping her sudden philosophy into his hardened face, which continued to stare down at her with anxiety. "Van, I'm staying!" she exclaimed, staring back at him with her new resolve flashing in her eyes. The pair stood thus for awhile; Van gripping her arm, Hitomi doing the same to his arm holding hers, staring defiantly at each other. Their opinions differed greatly; both silently wondered what would happen.

Slowly, Van released his grip on her arm. In response to his action, she loosened her grip as well. Turning his head away and closing his eyes tightly, he said to her, "Hitomi, you are so damn stubborn." She continued to stare at him, not understanding his meaning. Then he turned to her, as a laugh escaped his lips, "It never does to argue with you. I guess I'm glad for it." Hitomi smiled widely, jumping up to hug him. Van nimbly caught hold of her body as tears began streaming down her face. She laughed through them in complete relief, happy even to go into war with him.

Van sadly smiled when he thought she wasn't looking, as he stroked her hair softly. Deep in his heart, he knew that he was selfish; a part of him didn't want her to leave, which would force her into everything she hated. However, there was also the other option. Hitomi could return to the Mystic Moon, but that would also cause her pain because of him. In choosing either action, he felt selfish. The best he could do was accept her decision.

"Hitomi, I won't stop you from doing anything you don't want to do. But it's going to be hard for the both of us from now on." Hitomi shook her head. "I don't believe you. Nothing is harder than separation, at least for me." She stepped back from his embrace, her hand to her face. "I know, I always seem to have my own best interests at heart. I'm such an idiot, aren't I?" She smiled to herself. Van nodded, grinning as well. "Yeah, you are." he replied wryly.

"Hey!" she swung out at him, but missed as he casually dodged it. He made a turn to leave, saying to her, "Get some sleep, Hitomi. You'll really need it in the time to come." Hitomi replied, "You too, Van. You'll probably need it more than I do." He nodded in her direction as he made his way down the hall, his face seemingly covered in a mask; one that would carry him through this war, almost changing his personality to a warlike one, at least for now.

When she shut the door, Hitomi leaned her body against it. While Van was out there, she didn't want to show him that she still felt doubtful about her decision. She was really scared, not of the fact that Fanelia was at war, but of the fact she might not be able to help. Feeling useless was one thing she hated most. Hitomi made her way over to her bed and sat down on it. From her window, she could see outside into the streets of Fanelia, as people hurried about getting their chores done, still unaware that their country was now at war. What would be their reaction when they find out, Hitomi thought to herself.

She looked over to her bedside table, where the corsage Van had given her still lay. He had only given it to her the night before, but it had seemed like years ago. Did war really appear to speed up time like that, or was it just the suddenness of the declaration? Questions floated through her mind as she stared at her present, until she could stand it no longer. In a swift
motion, she picked up the corsage and threw it across the room. It hit the door and dropped silently to the floor. Amazed at her quick action, she stood up and retrieved it, examining it. Hitomi was a little disheartened to find that some of the orange flowers had been crushed. So quickly, in her sudden moment of impatience.

Smoothing it out as best she could, she went over to her bed and reached underneath it. For now, she didn't want to look at it. For now, it would be put away. When Hitomi pulled out the box from under the bed, she remembered that she had also put Escaflowne's energist there. She put the corsage in the box with one hand, and with the other, took the energist out. Now that war had been declared, Van would need it, wouldn't he? The thought of Escaflowne in motion again, fighting in this new war, sent a shiver down her spine. Escaflowne was Fanelia's best guymelef, and only Van could pilot it. But what would happen if it was piloted once again? Hitomi remembered how Van had almost gone insane fighting inside it; he didn't seem like the gentle boy she knew. Giving it to him might be a big mistake.

Hitomi stared at the gem in her hand, caressing it softly. Examining it closer, she could see the dried blood that Van had shed onto it, creating a blood pact with the enormous machine. It had almost seemed like a ceremony to her at the time. However, the image of Van fighting inside the Escaflowne, heavily burdened with the deaths he had caused while inside it, that maniacal face, his eyes darting back and forth almost in confusion, as if his mind had really been lost. Hitomi shook the images out of her head and quickly put the energist back in the box with her corsage. She didn't want to see that ever again.


"But your Majesty-"
"I won't have any protests!" the impatient voice answered as he turned his back to his companion. Inside this empty room, with nothing but a table and chair, King Gendas spoke with his advisor, the Minister Ladislaus. The empty space seemed to allow him to think better. Gendas leaned his weight on the table, his hands balled into fists atop it, silently suggesting he wanted to be left alone. However, his minister was not yet done with him.

"The King of Fanelia won't have it! He isn't as foolish as you may think. He may be young, but Van Fanel has proven something in his peace document that even I failed to see before." Gendas felt anger rise inside him like a rushing river at his minister's defense of his enemy.

Turning around to face the man, he shouted, "What is that, Ladislaus? Are you suggesting that- that boy is in the right for peace? My daughter is dead, and I am sure he is at fault!" He paused, slowly placing his arms behind his back in sudden, deep thought. "Suicide indeed! The only praise I can give my foe is that he is a great storyteller! My daughter has never had a suicidal tendency in her life." Minister Ladislaus could not respond to this; he had no idea about how the King's daughter Faye had died.

"Still, even if King Van murdered her, don't you think it's also in our best interests as well as his to keep peace between ourselves?" Ladislaus asked. Gendas didn't answer; even he knew it was foolish to go to war like this. When he looked at it logically, however, he knew that Genduta had the advantage and war would gain him the great energist-filled lands of Fanelia. Dragons had always roamed wild through that green land, and in no time he could gain a large quantity of the energist gems. With these energists, the power to rule Gaea would lay in his hands.

Gendas chuckled to himself, thinking of the present King of Fanelia. How stupid he was, ignorant of the treasure his land had possessed for thousands of years. Why, if Van Fanel had known it, and was filled with the same ambition as he, that boy could be ruler of Gaea even now. But Gendas vowed he would keep quiet about the energist hoards awaiting him, when he won Fanelia for himself. For now, he had to be content with telling his country that his reason for war was to avenge his daughter, although in truth, he knew how she had met her end.

"Sir?" came Ladislaus' voice, removing the desert King from his visions of the future.

"What is it?" Gendas replied. Ladislaus straightened up, ready to assess their situation. "Since war is inevitable, we must inspect our guymelefs' armour, weapons, and mobility level. However, energists are extremely hard to come by in these days..." the minister trailed off, unsure how the King would be able to power the huge suits of armour during the planned war. Gendas knew that Fanelia had an excess of energists, as well as Asturia, her ally. Fanelia had no use for the excess, and so traded them in exchange for materials to rebuild their country to Asturia. Surely, he could arrange something...

"Ladislaus, I am sure that a raid is in order..." The other man's eyes widened in shock. "Your Majesty! You can't be serious! Raiding Fanelia... there is no honour in that!" he exclaimed imploringly. When the king remained silent, Ladislaus continued, "It would only bring more shame on us as a nation. Your daughter's suicide was enough to do that alone-" Gendas turned around swiftly, swinging his cape away with his left arm. "My daughter did not commit suicide! How many times must I say that?!" he roared, a sudden rage surging through his body. Ladislaus nodded meekly; he didn't want to argue when the king became like this.

"I shall personally take an inspection of our country's armour, sir." With that, the minister turned to leave.

"Wait, Ladislaus." Gendas called. He stopped, slowly turning to the King to hear out what he had to say now. The King's rage seemed to have mysteriously evaporated, as a strange smile now crossed his lips.

"Fetch my son." he said simply. Ladislaus started in surprise. "T-Tobias..?" he stumbled over the word, "But the boy wants nothing to do with this war! He told me that directly after you sent the declaration!" Gendas, his hands folded, shook his head calmly at the man's outburst and replied, "I think I can talk to him. Convince him. Words can be invaluable in times like these..." Ladislaus swallowed nervously, but nodded, departing the room.

Oh, what's gonna happen next? Huh? Read the next chapter, when it comes out of course!