Hey, Merry Christmas! And a Happy New Year!

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne but I do own Hope, Jason, Lisa, Youhan, Teresa, Nanakia, and some more that are coming soon.

~Last Time on NOT WHAT IT SEEMS~

'I am the previous queen of Anatopia.' then all of a sudden a bright light began to shine where Van had last heard the voice and a figure emerged out of it. She had waist length silver hair, beautiful blue-green eyes, and an air of elegance all around her. The crown of Anatopia sat majestically on her head. Queen Serenity of Anatopia stood before Van.

"Your majesty I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you." apologized a shocked Van.

'You weren't supposed to young one, there is no need to apologize, now go Hope is really worried about you,' with that Queen Serenity disappeared and Van was thrown into a pit of darkness.

______________________________________________

'Oh what am I going to do now, Hitomi is gonna kill me for even letting him in. I hope he's ok, why won't he get up? What HAPPENED?!' were the questions running through Hope's head at the moment. Everyday she guarded the door while Hitomi trained to control powers and put them together to create the ultimate fighting warrior. The servants tended to stay away from the old training room because Hitomi had cast a spell to make it seem like the room was haunted by the spirits of long dead soldiers.

Hope always came in about this time to make sure the powers didn't hurt Hitomi too bad, although Hitomi was usually knocked unconscious and would later wake very disheveled and dizzy by the force of the power that it took to reach that form. But today Hope had to run off early to make sure Merle didn't get into the room. She thought that no one would come through this corridor, yet now she knew she was mistaken, because there lay the young king of Fanelia unconscious beside her princess. Hope was afraid of what he had seem while she was away, and with the fact that Hitomi lay there in the newly achieved ultimate form, she knew that it wasn't going to be easy trying to explain it all to him.

'Hitomi? Hitomi! Come on please get up, don't do this to me. Oh, king Van get up, get up!' she shouted to them.

"Oooh, Merle go away, my head is killing me," replied Van before he suddenly remembered what he had seen only moments ago. Van quickly jumped to his feet and looked around him. Seeing how dark it was in the room he walked out the door and came back in seconds later with a torch from the hall and placed it in one of the stands in the large room. He turned around once he could see and noticed a very worried Hope and an unconscious Hitomi. Then he noticed that Merle was no where to be seen and there was no way for Hitomi to yell at him, which left Hope 'She can't be the one that yelled could she?' he asked himself. 'I have got to be loosing it' then looking at Hope and thinking it wouldn't hurt to try he mentally asked, 'Hope were you the one that just shouted.'

'Yes Hitomi, are you feeling alright? you know that I can talk to you.' replied Hope before noticing that Hitomi was still unconscious and then looking at the brownish-red eyed king 'You can hear me can't you!' she screamed.

'It seems so,' sighed Van the whole while rubbing his head (get it? she screamed it hurt his head, oh never mind)

'Oh how could I have been so stupid? You have dragon's blood, so you should be able to understand me; you never did before because I never directed my thoughts at you,'

'That's nice to know, Now what do we do about her highness over there?' asked Van tilting his head toward the unconscious Hitomi.

'Well, um, oh I guess it won't hurt to tell you. I usually transform to my human form and use my aparathy powers to transport her to her room.'

'I don't really want to know right now could you just do it?' he exhaled running a hand through his unruly hair.

'Very well'

Hope began to glow a blinding white light which was being emitted from her chest. Her slim wolf form began to change to that of a young woman about Hitomi's age and height just barely reaching at Van's chin. Her white fur began to get shorter and turned a pale pink, her form altered from 4 legs to an upright figure on two legs, her snout shrank to a pointed human nose, her front legs formed into 2 slender arms. She had waist length white hair, with silver streaks running through it. Her white-silvery bangs covered her blue silver tinted eyes. Around her neck in the exact spot from where the white light was given off only a second ago a simple necklace with a silver chain and a diamond on the end of it appeared. Her clothes were a loose white shirt with long sleeves that formed into a triangle shape at her palms and on the top of her hands and black leather pants with knee high black boots. What gave her off to be part of the Wolf Spirits tribe were the three long silver scratch marks that ran across her pale right cheek.

'She is beautiful but Hitomi is much more beautiful' thought Van before mentally slapping himself for saying such a thing.

"I'm glad you think that Van although I doubt Hitomi would want to hear it," came Hope's amused laugh, her blue eyes twinkling. The comment caused a bit of a blush to appear on Van's checks. "Now could you please pick Hitomi up and stand beside me?" Van did as she asked, marveling at how light Hitomi was even with all the armor on. He loved how peaceful and serene she looked, with her honey colored bangs covering her closed eyes and her usually determined and tense features relaxed. 'Oh you've got to stop thinking like that Van' he chided to himself, not noticing Hope's smug look. Once Van picked Hitomi up, Hope closed her eyes and began to recite some incantations that Van somehow knew where in Atlantian. The 3 scratch marks and the crystal on Hope's necklace began to glow and swirls of silver light started to surround the 3 figures. Van looked at the swirling streaks of silver in amazement and before he knew it he found himself in a barely lit room.

"Please place her on the bed," instructed Hope, her slender finger pointing to a large canopy bed. Van walked over and placed her down on the bed and took a look around the room. As Merle, when she came into Hitomi's room, he wasn't surprised at the way it was decorated. In a way it portrayed Hitomi, dark, mysterious, secretive, and warrior-like with all the swords and bows and arrows hung all around on the walls.

"I guess I have some explaining to do don't I?" sighed Hope pulling out two chairs beside Hitomi's bed for them to sit on.

"I sure wouldn't mind if you did." replied Van, sitting down.

"Oh, where to start," thought Hope out loud, "I wouldn't doubt that you saw some of Hitomi's memories since she was in a very unstable state when you found her, that has happened with me, yet how many or how deep they were I don't know. I'm guessing that you already know that I'm part of the Wolf Spirits tribe from the scratch marks if not from the visions." Van nodded at her guess, "But do you know of our history or powers?" at this Van shook his head. "Well, I guess I'll start from the beginning then. The Wolf Spirits tribe is a tribe of magical people who were given necklaces like the one that I'm wearing from the Atlantians thousands of years ago. The necklaces increase our powers and also give us the ability to transform into wolves. They were feared throughout Gaea after the war between the Atlantians and Draconians because they had aided the Atlantians with their powers, acting as spies and assassins. After the wars, Atlantis was destroyed so the Atlantians created Anatopia and invited them and any other creatures affected by the wars to go with them, while the Draconians created the Mystic Moon and left Gaea forever give a few who decided to stay. My necklace was passed down to me from my mother and from her mother before her."

"What does all this have to do with Hitomi though?" asked a confused Van.

"Well," replied Hope, playing with a strand of her silvery hair, "the day that Queen Serenity was killed, the assassin was really there for Hitomi. You probably already know how my mother saved her, but why is what I need to answer. My mother and Hitomi's knew each other for years; when they were mere children I should think. They met because the Ancient Ones believed that Queen Serenity was the one that the Prophecy of the Phoenix spoke about, my mother was sent to support and aid Serenity into finding the true powers of the Atlantians."

"What do you mean Prophecy of the Phoenix, I never heard of it before."

"'The One of pure Atlantian blood shall arise from the heat of the Dragon and win his love. They shall be tested through many hidden tests and if their love should suffice to that of the utmost supreme of sacrifices the Dragon and Phoenix shall become one and reach the ultimate form. They shall defeat those of evil and bring peace to all the lands. But the land of the Phoenix shall not survive. Yet should the Phoenix be led astray she shall bring death and destruction to all creatures of life, of death, of good or of evil. The Dragon will die of heart ache causing them both to die perish, for they are soul mates and feel each other's pains.'" stated Hope, her eyes becoming distant.

"But it wasn't Queen Serenity, was it?" asked Van, quickly glancing over to the unconscious Hitomi.

"No it wasn't, yet they still stayed friends and kept in touch over the years. Now back to where we were. The day that they both died was the same day that I was to be sent to see if Hitomi is the one. Both of them were meant to die, that was the way Fate had written it. But Queen Serenity never told Hitomi of the prophecy, she didn't want Hitomi to be the one and have to suffer through so much, but it seems that it was all in vain.  It is believed that Hitomi may be the Phoenix that they've been searching for, and I'm to protect and help her through her toughest challenge, even if it may mean death then so be it." she finished, leaving an eerie silence in the room then she began again, "I befriended Hitomi and we comforted each other through those first few months. I was there to witness Hitomi's powers emerge and grow, I saw the pain she had to go through, the blame, her reaction towards the sight of death, the coldness after being found, the loss of love. Oh how I wished I could help her more give her more comfort through her problems, but the friendship I had to offer wasn't enough. She needs someone to teach her how to love again, not the love of a rule to her people or friends but the love of a girl to her family, love to one of the opposite gender of the same age," she stated the last part in a whisper.

"But tell me about her disappearance, what happened?"

"Well a week before she disappeared, the ruler of Zaibach and his soldiers came for talk of a peace treaty. One of his generals was a man named Dilandau," at the name Van paled as though he had seen a ghost, but Hope seemed not to notice and continued, "He was truly a monster, when you looked into his eyes you could see the lust for blood in them, his love for war. Hitomi knew instantly that he was not to be trusted. The way he looked at her was truly frightening; it was as though he could see right through her, see who and what she was. She watched him closely through their whole visit. On the night that they were to leave she disappeared, though no one noticed till the next morning. We still don't know where or how she disappeared. All we know is that whatever happened to her was something that could truly shake her strong, cold walls. She began to have nightmares after she returned, waking up each night for a whole year screaming and in cold sweat, she jumped at any action or movement near her, not trusting anyone anymore, not even me…," Hope sobbed quietly her silver bangs covering her closed eyes.

"Dilandau, if he worked for Dornick when Hitomi was 5 and appeared to be 17 then how would he have been 17 during the Destiny War? It's just not possible!" Van burst out, Hope had a thoughtful look in her eyes, turning them more silver than blue, at the statement.

"Yes, it is possible, now that you think about it," she finally replied her eyes going back to their normal blue silver tinted color, "Zaibach was know for its powerful sorcerers and still is, if they wanted to preserve Dilandau's age at 17, then it's most likely possible since Dilandau was never really human, just a Monolack created to take human form." This would have made sense since Monolacks, which were rarely seen after the Winged Wars (name for the wars between the draconians and atlantians), were creatures that lurked in the shadows of the night and if captured could be formed into whatever the capturer wanted. They never aged after being captured and were always loyal to their master. In Dilandau's case he was formed into a blood thirsty monster in human form.

"Do you think that it was Dilandau that took her?"

"That theory was already tested, the whole of Anatopia was searched after her disappearance but nothing was found. Zaibach also let us search them and she was still missing."  

"When you say all do you also mean Dragon Mountain?" asked Van.

"We we never thought that that's where they could be, all this time that that's where they've been, that never came up, I must go we just might have to cancel that trip into Dragon Mountain after all, and anyway Merle's gotten into Hitomi's study," groaned Hope, listening to Merle's sneaky thoughts.

"It's not bad is it?" Van asked.

"Oh it wouldn't be if Hitomi hadn't hidden her book on Atlantis in there, I've got to stop her before she finds it and reads it. She's not meant to even touch that book,"

"Why not?"

"It shows things, unwanted and disturbing things, past, present, or future. People who have touched it have gone into commas and still haven't come out of them and the ones that have woken up are always seeing things and are also known to go crazy. I must go, please watch over Hitomi, it won't be long, I'll send a maid in to check in on her soon and then you can leave. See ya…" she turned to look at Hitomi one more time and noticed that she was crying. "That's odd, Hitomi hasn't cried once since her mother's.., could she be seeing her mother right now?" Hope asked in no one in a whisper, but loud enough for Van to hear. "I must go, Hope said sadly," and with that silver lights began to swirl around her and in the blink of an eye the silver lights as well as Hope were no where to be seen.

'But who is supposed to be the Dragon' thought Van to himself.

'It's obvious isn't it' came Hope's voice then an airy laugh.

 ~IN HITOMI'S MIND WHILE THEY WERE TALKING~

'I finally did it,' thought Hitomi, looking at her self, (she has the armor on), 'But where am I' she asked herself looking around her for the first time. The area was completely black, and Hitomi was floating in the middle of it all.

"You're in the Dream World Hitomi," came an oddly familiar voice. "It's been so long since I've seen you, you have grown into a beautiful young lady, no wonder Van has grown to like you" the voice laughed and Queen Serenity's figure came out of a blinding white light.

"Mother! It can't be you, it just can't be." screamed Hitomi, completely shocked at what she was seeing.

"Oh but it is, darling. It's been 11 years, yet you still take after your father and not only in looks." Serenity laughed again.

"But how," whimpered Hitomi, for the first time in 11 years she looked helpless, not even when she was beaten did she let herself look helpless or scared.

"I have finally been given permission to come see you dear, oh how I've missed you," cried Serenity softly as she took Hitomi into her long, slender arms and hugged her tightly.

"I I've missed you too mother," Hitomi whispered into her mother's hair, hugging her mother just as tightly if not more.

"But Hitomi, there is another reason that I'm here," replied Serenity while stepping back to get a better look at her daughter. "I know that you're going into Dragon Mountain, so I've come to prepare you for the worst. Don't give me that face Hitomi," she cried as Hitomi's face suddenly became cold, "You may not like to but you've got to let others in, you've got to ask for help sometime or another, you can't depend on yourself all the time," she cupped her hands on both of Hitomi's cheeks and made Hitomi's green eyes look into her blue-green ones.

Looking away, Hitomi whispered harshly, "I've prepared myself all that I need to, I have no fears, that was in the past, I've left it all behind me,"

"But you haven't. The memories of what happened two years ago still plague you, you're still afraid. Let me show you," and with that she place her right hand on Hitomi's forehead causing Hitomi's eyes to become unfocused.

~Flash~

A dark cave, evil red eyes.

~Flash~

Hitomi began to shake unwillingly.

~Flash~

A man no creature, silver hair, red eyes. Whip, cracks, pain, blood.

~Flash~

"Stop," Hitomi whispered.

~Flash~

Daggers, blood, pain yet silence, she couldn't scream, she wouldn't.

~Flash~

"Stop," she said louder.

~Flash~

Long black hair, grey cladded skin, dark, evil black eyes, grey wings, smell of death and blood, a Gargoyle!

~Flash~

"Stop!" screamed Hitomi falling to her knees and holding her head.

"See Hitomi, you're not ready, not yet. Please just listen to me let me help you," begged Serenity also going down on her knees and taking Hitomi's head on her lap. She noticed hot tears falling down Hitomi's face and wiped them away. "Hitomi it's ok to want to be strong and independent, but you mustn't close out the people who truly care about you. Let Hope, Lisa, and your father help you, let Merle and Van help you, they all do care even if you don't." seeing that the tears kept coming Serenity knew what her daughter was thinking, "Hitomi you didn't kill me, you couldn't have done anything you were young. I was meant to die that day, I knew I would. I'm just sorry I didn't tell you about the Prophecy I wanted to protect you, you shouldn't have to go through such pain."

"But mama I was weak, I let him kill you and Hope's mother too," cried Hitomi, truly sounding like a child, tears still coming out of her emerald green eyes. "It was all my fault, all my fault." she kept repeating over and over again.

"Listen to me Hitomi it wasn't you fault, you couldn't have done anything, you must understand that," she said more forceful than she had intended. "I must go now Hitomi, but I will return to help soon, we will train in your dreams every night for the next week, goodbye my little flaming bird," with those loving words Queen Serenity disappeared and Hitomi slept soundly for the first time in 2 years.