Wahoo, chapter twenty-two!(that rhymes) Hey howdy hi! How are y'all? I never thought I'd get this done, it took forever to write! Well, I'm hoping to average about a chapter a month(two if I'm lucky). Thanks for your patience with slow old me, and read ze chapter!


Chapter 22-
Emotions Released

Gathered around a large company of soldiers, the commander of these men made his way down to the city square. Despite being the heat of the day, he was dressed in a long wine coloured cape which ended loosely about his ankles. He wore a pair of light, sandy-coloured slacks, and a short-sleeved black tunic decked his chest area. His heavy-bottomed boots struck the compacted sandy ground with dull thuds as he passed by several soldiers, who saluted in his presence.

He turned around to greet a messenger who came hurrying his way. "Prince Tobias! Your eminence, I've good news!" Tobias gave him an inquiring look, as he folded his arms in anticipation of the messenger's explanation. Bowing low, the man began to speak, but Tobias interrupted him.

"Stand up, Muhadid. I won't look down on you." he smiled at the older man, who immediately stood up to face the prince. "But your father demanded that everyone-" Tobias held up his hand. "Even though I have been named Commander of the Royal Army by my father, nothing has changed between us. You're still the man who looked after me since I was a child. What is your news?" Muhadid gazed at the prince's new attire. He certainly had changed in these past few months; the metamorphosis seemed almost unbelievable. Tobias had changed, from a simple young man who would fight only to duel, to a commander of a real army in a real war.

"Yes, Prince Tobias," he began, glancing a bit uneasily around at the troops that surrounded the two of them, "It seems that our spy in Freid has betrayed us." Tobias was not surprised, showing that in his nod. "I suspected as much. I was there when he swore fealty to us, but there was no doubt in my mind that he would betray us. Where is he now?" Muhadid gestured behind him as a man clad in black came forward with the traitor draped over his horse.

"Here he is, your Majesty." the rider jumped down from his horse, dragging the spy from the saddle roughly. His eyes had been covered with a blindfold, should he happen to wake up and see where Genduta's supplies were stored. Yanking off the blindfold, Mishrid shielded his revealed eyes from the noon sun. The rider shoved him roughly to his knees, bounding his hands immediately bound in front of him. Tobias stepped in front of him.

"What have you to say for yourself?" he asked, gazing down at the man. Mishrid would not look up at the Prince. "Hey!" the dark clad rider barked, delivering a sharp kick to the bent man's back, "Answer our Prince, you bastard!" Mishrid looked up into Tobias's face, resolution resting on his features.

"You can do with me what you wish. I now know that the oath I made was cowardly, but even in knowing what will become of me, I still cannot betray my Prince." Tobias simply nodded, folding his arms across his chest. "I didn't think that you would. However, I can't let this go." Mishrid bowed his head once again, as the rider grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, forcing him to his feet. "Our law decrees that traitors must die." Tobias cleared his throat. It sounded so natural when he listened to his father gave a similar command, yet it was in fact harder than it looked. The traitor, upon being dragged away, wore no fear, nor anger, nor hatred upon his face. It surprised the young Prince, to say the least. Never had he seen someone so calm going to his death. However, he tried to give it little thought as he turned again to Muhadid.

Tobias... the man gazed at him, unable to believe that he had sent someone, even if he was a traitor, to death without so much as a thought, or any emotion on his face at all. He has really changed. What has happened to the boy I once knew? Muhadid jerked his gaze from the young man's profile as Tobias spoke.

"Where is my father? Was he not supposed to accompany me to the battlefield today?" Muhadid closed his eyes, remembering the other news he had to bring the army's new commander.

"His Majesty Gendas is still planning the raid on Fanelia." he answered, opening his eyes to see the Prince's reaction, knowing full well that he was not aware of the raid. Tobias reacted as he knew he would, clenching his hands into fists at this news. "That is more than likely why he put me in charge of the army, despite knowing my inexperience. My father may have fought many wars before, but what he is doing is without honour! Besides, what has Fanelia that we do not?" Muhadid sighed.

"He will not say. Prince, you must be the one to ask him." Tobias nodded, knowing that anyone else who did may very well be punished severely for doing so. "I can't now. I must keep the soldiers going. Farewell, Muhadid. If we never meet again, please don't remember me as I am now." Muhadid gave the Prince an inquisitive look. Tobias continued.

"No, war is truly not how I am. I have a purpose to fight, but that I must keep to myself, at least for now." Genduta's general rode up alongside the two men, leading a white horse for his Commander. Tobias mounted quickly, raising his arm. Out of the corner of his eye, he checked to see if the guymelefs were prepared. Seeing that everything was set, he shouted out, "Genduta! Let us bring back victory!" The cry was answered with a chorus of male voices acknowledging their commander, as he drew his sword, whacking the hilt on his horse's behind. The animal whinnied, but charged out toward the gates. The army seemed to become a swarm behind the Prince, who led them with a sense of accomplishment settled on his face. Father, I will show you how a war is fought. Not by treachery, nor raids, but with a swift purpose in mind. Genduta's army flowed across the desert plain, bound for Freid.

Van shot his head up, looking heavenward. Something in the air seemed to have chilled his body. He shook away the feeling in beads of sweat from his hair. It was more than likely his own nervousness, coupled with the heat of the desert, that was making him feel this way. The head wrap he wore lessened the direct beams on his dark head, but the chill felt unnatural.

He looked to his side where Hitomi had joined him moments ago, studying her expression to see if she had felt it as well. She looked calm as she stared ahead over the horizon, when suddenly she stopped. Van froze not far from where she had, grabbing hold of her hand and squeezing it.

"Hitomi? Please tell me what it is." he asked, glancing around as the soldiers, supplies, and guymelefs passed by the two of them, not heeding the king or the girl. Coming closer, Van could see her expression had changed drastically.

Hitomi looked up. She had heard a rumble come from deep within the earth, and had stopped for fear that the ground would crumble underneath her feet. Vaguely, she saw Van coming toward her, clasping her hand. She had not felt his hand in hers until he squeezed it. Looking up into his eyes, she tried to smile, but it was difficult.

I have a feeling that something is coming, her mind screamed at her. She heard Van's voice, but the words he spoke would not register over that shout inside her heart. "Van..." she whispered, trying to reassure him that she was all right, yet without losing the vision. Van's already faint image wavered, disappearing into the darkness of her vision. She did not cry out, knowing somehow that he was still there, holding her hand. Instead, she looked straight ahead.

The shimmer of stars lit up the dark surrounding her, and Hitomi could see the desert. It was nightfall, and the rose sun was setting into the sand. She gazed at the sand which glowed the colour of the departing sun, when suddenly the sand began to scatter. Covering her eyes with her arm, Hitomi peeked above and saw a mass of fire burning on the horizon. She began to sweat profusely, wondering in vain what had caused it. The scattered sand only added to the fire's fuel, and Hitomi writhed about. She wanted to get away, but Van now held her arm tightly. He was still there...? His face reappeared and disappeared, as the vision began to take over her consciousness. Finally, she could no longer see Van.

Restraining herself from crying out, she continued to gaze up at the horizon where the fire was spreading. What was spreading it? Just then, a white horse made its way toward the fire, followed by a mass of horses and also... guymelefs. Guymelefs? Was it an army? The land began to shake, harder and harder until Hitomi fell forward. She had to say something. It was an army, and it was headed straight toward the fire! Even if it was the enemy, she couldn't let them die such in such a horrible way. She had to say something.

Van felt Hitomi pat his arm with her hand, her hand limp inside his. She whispered his name softly, but he would not have heard it if he had not been close to her. "Hitomi, can you hear me?" But she didn't answer. She was having a vision. It would probably be better not to speak to her, he figured, but still...

"Hitomi, I'm here for you. Don't let whatever you're seeing take you." he said, bringing his body close to hers. He tried, through contact with her, to feel what she was going through. Closing his eyes and ignoring the outside shouts of concerned soldiers, Van slipped his hand around her waist with his free hand. Show me something, he begged. I want to help you, Hitomi. She seemed to hear his voice, because she squeezed his hand back. Van, put your head on mine. You'll see, but are you sure you want to? Hitomi's voice entered his mind and, without glancing at her, replied readily, Yes.

A bright light filled his eyes, which had up until then been darkened by his own eyelids. When the light faded, he opened his eyes. They were still in the same position as they had been in consciousness, except that Hitomi now stood up on her own. Van, look! She said immediately, and he turned his face toward the hill. It was hot, much more than the desert usually was, even at noon. His widened crimson eyes reflected the fire as he noticed a white horse charging toward the fire, which was spread over the horizon. He looked farther, catching sight of more men on horseback bringing up the rear of the white rider.

Hitomi! They're going to- he thought, as she nodded. I can't stop them, she thought, as Van turned to her, amazed at their telepathic link. We can do nothing. He turned from her, as the army raced toward the flames. Both of them wished they could turn away, but their eyes remained locked on the hill.

Then something happened. The white rider, unceasingly making his way toward the blaze, passed through. Smoke floated off his clothes, but he was otherwise unharmed! Hitomi and Van watched as each rider in his company seemingly floated through the inferno, finally making their way down the hill of sand. They watched, until the danger that was upon them came to Van's realization.

"Hitomi!" he shouted, flinging himself and Hitomi to the ground. He willed his wings to come out, to save them, but he could not do it. They would be trampled by the army. Hitomi lay upon the ground, clasping his shirt tightly inside her palm. She wanted to tell him; despite its seeming reality, this vision was simply that, a vision. But would he believe it? It was too real, and he had never experienced it like this before. It would be heart-wrenching, but she had to keep quiet, using only gestures and touch to comfort him. Her eyes began to moisten, seeing his terrified face above her. Reaching up with trembling fingers, she stroked his cheek gently. He opened his eyes, staring down at her in wonder. She was so calm, so ready for anything. He closed his eyes. He knew he must be brave, like her.

Her trembling fingers began to shake, as the beat of hooves bore down upon them, just feet away from where they lay. Van rested his head inside the nape of her neck, sighing slowly. Silently, Hitomi held him close, her hands resting on his back, and her cheek leaned against the back of his head.

"What's happened?" the voice demanded, seeing a few of the soldiers fall behind. Allen, feeling this was an emergency, gave the order to halt in spite of himself. He knew Van wouldn't like them stopping, but he would have to. Gesturing with his hand, some soldiers followed him to where the group of strayed men stood, in a circle speaking in low whispers.

"What's happened?" Allen repeated himself, as the crowd broke for the knight to pass through. He heard a voice suddenly cry out, "Lord Van! Hitomi!" It was Merle, and she sounded desperate. Allen rushed up through the circle of men, and started at the sight of the seemingly unconscious couple holding each other upon the scorching desert sand.

"It was strange, sir," a Fanelian soldier struggled to report, as Allen gazed at them. "King Van simply held the girl, and they stood there for what seemed like hours. First, we thought he was only urging her forward, but then they collapsed." Allen knelt down, feeling Hitomi's forehead.

"Could it be heatstroke, sir?" asked another soldier who bent down to examine them as well. Allen held his hand to his own forehead, nodding. "It feels like that, but I can't see how it would afflict both of them at the same time." He touched Van's forehead as well. "Yes, they both feel hot. But it's not heatstroke." The soldier sucked in his breath quickly.

"Sir?" Allen stood up, gazing down at their prostrated bodies. "They are experiencing a vision. There is nothing we can do until it has passed." The soldiers, although baffled, could only nod. "However," he added, "keep them cool. They shouldn't have to develop heatstroke anyway. Merle, where have you packed the cloths?" Merle, understanding him perfectly, scampered off to the store, a few minutes later bringing back a pair of cloths hastily doused in cold water. She also brought a blanket, covering the two of them with it.

"There." Allen declared as he lay the cloths on their foreheads and standing up, "We can do no more."

Van opened his eyes. They were both still here. Had the sun really set so quickly? Was this army really upon them? He looked down at Hitomi, who gazed back at him. In spite of himself, he looked up. Hitomi grabbed him, shouting inside her mind, Van don't look! The rider of the white horse thundered upon them, and Van clenched his teeth, prepared.

But he felt nothing. He heard voices shouting at him in the distance. The enemy had him. The war was over, and he had lost. What will happen to everyone... to his soldiers, to the Crusade, to Merle... Hitomi? No, he had to save Hitomi at least! This was not her world! "Hitomi!" he cried out.

"Yes?" she responded. He opened his eyes, and was surprised to see everyone, standing around the two of them. Their shadows fell on the prostrated couple, and he darted his eyes from one face to another, trying to remember what had happened. The sun had returned, and Van looked down, finally realizing that he was holding Hitomi tightly in his arms, as she looked at him with a smile on her face.

"Hitomi?" She put her hand on his arm. "Van, thank you for helping me through the vision." she replied gratefully. He nodded, relief flooding his body. Now he remembered. It was just a vision. It had seemed so real, he thought he was almost knocking upon death's door. Van recalled the visions that Hitomi had had during the Destiny War. How had she dealt with them? A smile washed over his face; he was glad to have helped her.

"Van! Hitomi!" Allen approached them as they stood up, still holding each other. "What did you see? It looked pretty intense." Van glanced at Hitomi, and she nodded. He spoke, explaining what they had seen, "It was a vision. An army came through a raging inferno on that dune nearby." He pointed to the dune, which had been burning in his mind but moments before. Gadeth stepped out from the crowd.

"An army, eh? Must be the enemy." he commented to himself. "The air smells different. The fire in your vision must have burned into reality." He looked in Van's direction. "Your Majesty, battle may be upon us within the hour. We should prepare our tents later." Van nodded, leaving his embrace with Hitomi, but still clasped her hand.

"Everyone! Draw your sword! Prepare for ambush!" Several soldiers ran to the front of the marching line, while others, including Allen and Chid, made their way back to where the equipment rested. Van turned to Hitomi. Squeezing her hand, he instructed her, "Hitomi. Please stay with Merle inside the covered wagon. If anything happens to me, and the enemy is victorious, please don't allow yourself to be captured. Return to Freid as soon as possible." She nodded, her eyes wide. Reluctantly letting go of his hand, Hitomi ran off to find Merle, who stood a little dazed in the middle of the commotion.

"Merle! Come with me!" she shouted over the voices. Merle seemed glad to see another girl, because when Hitomi came over to her, she immediately jumped onto her back, hugging her close. "Be brave, Merle. Do it for everyone out there." she said in comforting tones, although she herself was terrified. For now, harsh voices filled the air, as guymelefs were readied by their pilots, and men took their positions in front of them, standing ready for the army that was drawing closer with every passing moment.

Van, after seeing that the girls were safely inside the wagon, reached inside the pouch attached to his horse's saddle. His hand settled on the round, palm-sized object and clutched at it. Pulling out the energist, he ran behind Allen and the other soldiers who were already inside their guymelefs. Soon, the king reached for the huge tarp covered mound that was Escaflowne. Without hesitation, he yanked the tarp off the machine to reveal the magnificent guymelef, whose white armour fashioned by the Ispano so long ago gleamed in the desert sun. Squinting his eyes against the brilliance, he stared upwards toward it.

It seemed like thousands of years had passed since he had stared up at this suit of armour. The giant kneeled before him, almost like a servant in spite of its royal appearance. Van drew a breath in slowly, raising the energist to his chest with shaking fingers clutching it.

Brother... I have to greet this foe. I can't be afraid. He took a step forward. Please forgive me, Brother, I must break my promise to you and Hitomi. In asking for pardon, his pounding heart seemed to settle in his chest for a moment and he took the opportunity to leap onto the guymelef's knee. Before he could turn back, he inserted the energist into its niche inside the chest, watching as the machine's 'heart' began to beat once again. Van looked over as the pilot's chamber sprang to life. In spite of the situation, he smiled. He would definitely remember how to operate Escaflowne. It was almost a second nature to him, and in knowing this, he felt a little more confident about the upcoming battle. He settled himself in the compartment, as the chest folded over him, sealing him inside Escaflowne. As he hooked his own limbs to the machine's corresponding parts, power seemed to fill his body. The familiar feeling flooded his veins, and he felt more alive in these few seconds. The change startled him, but he raised himself from his bowed position. Escaflowne's joints were a bit slow to react, but soon Van stood in front of the army of guymelefs surrounding him. He looked toward the horizon, where the vision had taken place.

Tension seemed to hang in the air as every man held his breath, their swords poised in the air. Guymelefs stood just as quiet as the men who stood in front of them, swords also at the ready. Hours seemed to pass them by, as a sudden desert breeze blew Escaflowne's cape in anticipation. Presently, the men felt the tips of their swords shudder slightly. As in the vision, the sand along the horizon was kicked up in sheets. Van stood, his thoughts gripping him as he gripped the giant sword Escaflowne possessed.

A white steed, its coat shining white in the noon sun, charged over the horizon, as the deep rumbling of the earth suggested that the army also consisted of not only a multitude of horses, but also guymelefs. They don't have the advantage of a surprise attack, as they may have thought, Van pondered to himself, We're ready for them whenever they come over the horizon. Suddenly, he drew a breath and cried out in a loud voice, "Prepare for battle, Genduta! Fanelia is ready for you!" At the sound of his voice, the foot soldiers rushed forward, their swords pointed forward, perpendicular with their chests. Beckoning the guymelefs behind him with his sword, Van scanned the enemy ranks for a sign of the leader.

The man on the white horse. He couldn't tell whether or not it was Gendas, since he wore a helm over a head wrap of thin material, but he knew it must be the commander. The man sat high upon his horse, sure of himself and his purpose in this battle. Van gazed at him for a long while; he didn't even have a guymelef! Was Gendas that confident in his own abilities, that he would not pilot a guymelef in this arrogance? Would this battle decide the eventual outcome of the war? Clenching his colossal sword that remained gripped in Escaflowne's hand, he vowed he would fight as if he knew who the victor would be beforehand. Van raised the sword high, giving the command to charge forward.


Tobias scanned the enemy ranks from his position atop his battle steed. Fanelia had certainly prepared well for this, he had to admit. The ranks of guymelefs were impressive, and the number was more than he had expected. Fanelia was said to have a relatively small amount of the machines, so he wondered over it. From among the guymelef ranks, he spotted Chafaris, the guymelef of Freid's royal family. This meant that Prince Chid zar Freid was allied with Fanelia. As well, he spied Asturian-built guymelefs. Tobias closed his eyes. It was to be expected. Fanelia certainly would not have made it this far without allies. Although he had sent messengers and spies to spy on Fanelia's preparations for the war, only the traitor Mishrid had known something about the enemy's supplies, and he had not revealed anything. Still, Commander Tobias de Genthilia had ordered a great company to greet them for the first battle, which could very well be the decider of the victor of the war.

His eyes stopped on the guymelef that led the enemy procession. It stood tall, and it almost seemed to be larger than the ones following it. Its white armour outshone the dull colours of the ones behind it, reflecting the sun like a being from the sky. Tobias stared at it in wonder; he had read, it now seemed so long ago, about Fanelia's legendary Ispano guymelef, the Escaflowne. The way it had been described, he had figured it was only just a legend. Yet, here it was, right before him. He smiled. It would be piloted by no less but the king of Fanelia. This was the opponent he had to face. Then Tobias heard a voice come from the awesome guymelef.

"Prepare for battle, Genduta! Fanelia is ready for you!" the Fanelian king's voice boomed from afar. Tobias bent his head, then raised it quickly.

"Stand your ground!" he called out to the foot soldiers, who surrounded him on his mount. The men stiffened, staring straight ahead at the enemy that was making their way toward them. Tobias, still glaring at the Escaflowne with an almost mad gleam in his eye, cried, "Forward, attack!" He let his arm, which had been held horizontally outward, drop.

Soldiers flooded the vast plain, swords and spears now drawn, in a mad dash toward each other. The first of the foot soldiers met, as swords clashed, and the sound of steel on steel soon echoed through the air. Each man lashed out at his opponent, determined to be the victor rather than the fallen. The brown sand was soon stained with blood as men were struck down, some never to rise again. The victor would then turn away from the corpse, lashing out at another enemy. Screams of agony filled the desert air, which seemed to hang over above them, almost dulling the sound in the ears of the fighting, yet resounding loudly in those yet to fight.

On the hill, observing the chaos, Tobias's eyes kept wandering toward the Fanelian king's guymelef. "Hidram." he spoke the name quietly, yet the man whose name it belonged to came quickly running. "Yes, Prince?" Tobias turned toward his second-in-command, his eyes shining.

"Bring Serenity." he commanded, as Hidram bowed silently and left. Tobias dismounted, leaving his horse in the care of an attendant, and made his way behind his own procession of guymelefs, which were still awaiting battle. The Prince's cape flapped in a sudden breeze, as the tarp was pulled from over a huge object. A midnight blue guymelef, with a crimson coloured mantle flowing about its ankles, stared down at him, as he smiled to himself. "Serenity is ready for battle, is it not?" he asked. "Yes, sir! I have inspected her myself. There's not a flaw." Hidram stated rapidly. Staring up at the guymelef of the Royal House of Genduta, Tobias replied, "Good." Raising his arm upward, he touched the giant machine's energist store, and the hatch was opened immediately.

Shedding his cape so as to move around freely inside, Tobias leapt into the pilot's seat in two bounds. He connected his own limbs to the giant limbs of Serenity, feeling power rush through his body at the strength that had suddenly appeared. He took a step forward, feeling the earth tremble under his feet. "Pilots!" he called out, and his voice seemed magnified so that all could hear. Turning toward him, they awaited their instructions.

"Do not damage the energists inside the enemy guymelefs, if you can help it," he began, "We will take them from the fallen, and gain power and even more vast amount guymelefs than we have here today." Tobias stopped. Although he wished he would not have to rob the Fanelian army of their energists, he knew that if he did not, there would be many more war casualties in the form of Genduta's foot soldiers. A soldier on foot had a greater chance of meeting his death on the battlefield than did a soldier inside a guymelef.

"In addition," he added, "leave the Fanelian king to me." The soldiers turned again toward the battle, where many men had already fallen, both on each side. However, Fanelia seemed to be doing well in the foot battle, as many of the men had not been trained to use guymelefs. Instead, they relied on their swords and front line tactics to defeat an enemy. But how would Fanelia stand up to one of the greatest army of guymelefs in all of Gaea, second only to the one the Zaibach Empire had possessed during the Destiny War? Tobias knew that, if Genduta managed to take out the vast majority of the enemy guymelefs, the triumph of Fanelia's foot soldiers would be irrelevant.

The Prince led the way, as he began slowly marching, then running toward the enemy, his blood set on fire as a heated battle would soon begin between Van Fanel and himself.